During his trial at the state court in Halle, prominent far-right figure Björn Höcke asserted his innocence in response to charges of using a Nazi slogan. The trial comes ahead of a regional election in Thuringia, where Höcke intends to run for the governor's position. The specific charge against him involves the use of symbols associated with unconstitutional organizations, which carries a potential penalty of a fine or up to three years in prison.
The accusation stems from a speech Höcke delivered in Merseburg in May 2021, where he concluded with the phrase “Everything for Germany!” Prosecutors argue that this phrase, historically linked to the Nazis’ SA stormtroopers, was knowingly employed by Höcke. In his defense, Höcke claims that the expression is a common saying rather than a reference to its Nazi origins.
Although the German legal system does not require formal pleas, Höcke chose to address the charges during the trial, declaring his complete innocence and emphasizing his adherence to the law. As a former history teacher, he positioned himself as a law-abiding citizen.
Höcke, aged 52, holds a significant position within the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He has been leading the AfD's Thuringia branch since its establishment in 2013 and is slated to spearhead the party's campaign in the upcoming state election on September 1. Notably, Höcke has previously made controversial statements, including referring to the Holocaust memorial in Berlin as a “monument of shame” and advocating for a revision in Germany's approach to its historical remembrance.
The AfD's Thuringia branch is among three branches currently under official surveillance by the domestic intelligence agency due to their classification as a “proven right-wing extremist” group. The trial proceedings are scheduled to continue until May 14, with the outcome likely to impact Höcke's political future and the AfD's standing in Thuringia.
