- Controversy surrounding a neo-Nazi gathering - Local government acquires properties
Regnitzlosau City Council Now Owns a Previous Neo-Nazi Gathering Spot in Upper Franconia's Oberprex District
The district of Oberprex's Regnitzlosau municipality, part of Upper Franconia, has acquired the property once utilized as a neo-Nazi gathering spot, bringing an end to a prolonged dispute.
Second Mayor Fritz Pabel (CSU) mentioned that the city aims to prevent the property from serving as a platform for far-right extremists in the future, respecting their residents' demands. The acquisition may help in putting an end to the contentious issue surrounding the property, according to Pabel.
Pabel did not disclose the purchase price, but he acknowledged that it might put a financial burden on the city budget due to the property's past. Nonetheless, the city council considered it crucial to acquire the property to prevent it from being utilized by extremist groups. The decision was made unanimously by the municipal council.
City Council to Determine the Property's Future
Pabel believes that the building's poor condition warrants demolition. The city council plans to discuss and decide on the property's future after the summer break, starting in late September. By then, the property should be adequately acquired and registered in the land registry.
However, the house in Oberprex gained notoriety over the years as a hub for neo-Nazi gatherings and was ultimately seized by the Free State. In 2014, the far-right organization "Free Network South" (FNS) lost its legal status, and the property was confiscated. The organization's leading figure's mother filed a lawsuit against the seizure, arguing that she was oblivious to her son's political activities.
The Bavarian Administrative Court (VGH) ruled in favor of the mother in 2016. The Free State appealed the decision, but the Federal Administrative Court ultimately upheld the VGH's ruling last summer.
Property Owner Denied Knowledge of Neo-Nazi Activities
The Federal Administrative Court stated that property could be confiscated if a third-party directly supports an association's unconstitutional objectives by providing them with a place. However, such action requires that the property owner is aware of the association and its unconstitutional objectives, whereas the mother claimed she was oblivious to her son's involvement in "Free Network South." She stated she had limited political interest and mainly stayed in Italy. Consequently, the lower court's findings were upheld by the Federal Administrative Court.
The city council intends to prevent the 'BFG' (short for "Free Network South") from using the acquired property in the future, acknowledging its past association with neo-Nazi gatherings. After the summer break, the city council will discuss and decide on the property's fate, possibly considering demolition due to its poor condition, as suggested by Second Mayor Fritz Pabel.
