In the midst of a heated legal battle, Björn Höcke, the chairman of the Thuringian state branch of the AfD political party, was found guilty of using a banned slogan and sentenced to pay a fine of 130 euros daily for six months. Despite his claims of ignorance about the historical significance of his words, the court did not believe him.
The trial brought to light tensions between Höcke and the public prosecutor, with Höcke feeling targeted and persecuted. The court also reprimanded a newspaper for prematurely publishing a report on the case, causing confusion.
Höcke’s defense argued that he may not have known the full extent of the historical significance of the slogan in question. They brought in a historian to support their case, who tried to show that the slogan “Everything for Germany” had been used by other groups before it was associated with Nazi ideology. However, this evidence did not sway the court’s decision.
Despite this verdict, Höcke continues his campaign for upcoming state elections in Thuringia. The AfD remains popular among voters despite being considered right-wing extremist in some regions. There is still an ongoing investigation into whether Höcke committed similar offenses in Gera in December.
