Björn Höcke, a prominent figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany party, is facing a second charge for using a Nazi slogan. Prosecutors aim to add this new charge to the proceedings of his upcoming trial in Halle on April 18. Höcke is influential within the party’s hard right and is set to lead its state election campaign in Thuringia on September 1. The new charge alleges that he repeated the offense at an AfD event in Gera, his home state, in December 2021. Prosecutors claim that he encouraged the audience to shout “Germany!” after saying “Everything for…”.
In the case already scheduled for trial, Höcke is charged with using symbols of unconstitutional organizations for ending a speech in Merseburg with the words “Everything for Germany!” in May 2021, which prosecutors believe was a reference to an SA slogan used by the Nazis. Despite their allegations, Höcke’s lawyers have denied that his words had any “criminal relevance”. The politician’s controversial statements have included calling the Holocaust memorial in Berlin a “monument of shame” and advocating for a reevaluation of Germany’s remembrance of its past. Despite these remarks, a party tribunal rejected a bid to expel him from the party.
The Alternative for Germany party in Thuringia, where Höcke is a prominent figure, has been labeled by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency as a “proven right-wing extremist” group. The party has a particularly strong presence in the eastern part of the country, which was formerly communist. Recent national polls have shown AfD in second place behind the mainstream conservative opposition, indicating its growing popularity.
Höcke’s leadership in the party’s hard right faction has drawn criticism and legal charges related to the use of Nazi symbolism and slogans. Prosecutors allege that he has knowingly used these slogans at political events, raising concerns about his role within the party. The addition of a second charge to his upcoming trial highlights the ongoing legal and public scrutiny surrounding Höcke and the AfD in Germany.
Despite the controversies surrounding Höcke and the AfD, the party continues to maintain a strong presence in German politics. The upcoming state election in Thuringia will serve as a test of the party’s popularity and the influence of figures like Höcke. The ongoing legal proceedings and public debate over far-right extremism in Germany underscore the divisions within the country’s political landscape and raise questions about the future direction of the AfD and other right-wing movements.
