Justice - Further motions in the trial against Höcke for Nazi slogan
In the proceedings against Thuringia AfD chairman Bjoern Hoecke for a Nazi slogan, his defense lawyers have filed numerous applications before the Landgericht Halle. They requested identifying and summoning the participants of the Stammtisch where the statement was made on Wednesday. This would allow proving that they did not feel compelled by Hoecke to complete the slogan. The prosecution spoke out in favor of rejecting all applications and simultaneously questioned Hoecke's democratic understanding.
The prosecution has charged Hoecke because he allegedly approved the banned Nazi slogan "Alles für Deutschland" at an AfD Stammtisch with approximately 350 attendees in Gera, Thuringia, in the previous December. He reportedly spoke the first two words and, according to the prosecution, gestured to the audience to complete the phrase. The slogan was previously used by the Sturmabteilung (SA), the paramilitary combat organization of the Nazi Party NSDAP. Hoecke maintains his innocence.
His defense lawyers also intend to prove that the slogan held no central significance in National Socialism and was not widely disseminated. To this end, they requested historians as witnesses and cited various publications on the SA and National Socialism. Hoecke himself had already stated that he did not consider the use of the slogan punishable.
However, the prosecution expressed criticism towards Hoecke's public statements regarding the trial in its own applications. In a Telegram-distributed video, the AfD politician reportedly stated that "political show trials" must be addressed and that there would be a free justice again after an AfD takeover of power. Instead of showing insight and remorse, the defendant announced a personal vendetta against the involved judges, according to the prosecution's representative Benedikt Bernzen. This demonstrates a democratic understanding that is not compatible with the liberal-democratic basic order.
Originally, the court had planned to summon a historian as a witness for Wednesday. However, it was discovered that the historian had previously criticized the AfD in public. "We cancelled his invitation because it simply doesn't work that way," said the presiding judge Jan Stengel.
The Landgericht Halle had already sentenced the 52-year-old Hoecke to a fine for using the same Nazi slogan at an election campaign event in Sachsen-Anhalt, Merseburg, in May 2021. The decision is not legally binding, as Hoecke filed a revision. The accusation remains using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations.
Former history teacher Hoecke intends to run as AfD's top candidate in the Thuringia state elections on September 1, 2022. His party is classified as reliably right-wing extremist by the Thuringian Constitution Protection.
More than two hearing days has the court scheduled so far. However, with two lengthy consultation breaks given on Wednesday, the presiding judge indicated that further hearing days may be necessary. It is open whether the pleadings will be held and a verdict announced on Wednesday. In the first trial against Bjoern Hoecke, the Landgericht Halle announced the judgment at 7 pm.
Court schedule Landgericht Halle with information about the trial against Bjoern Hoecke
- The public prosecutor's office in Germany has charged Björn Höcke, chairman of Thuringia's AfD, for allegedly approving a banned Nazi slogan during an AfD Stammtisch in Gera, Thuringia.
- Hoecke's defense lawyers have filed numerous applications in the Landgericht Halle, seeking to identify and summon participants of the Stammtisch to prove they were not compelled by Hoecke.
- The prosecution has spoken out against these applications, questioning Höcke's democratic understanding and disagreeing with his characterization of the trial as a "political show trial."
- The slogan in question, "Alles für Deutschland," was previously used by the SA, the paramilitary combat organization of the NSDAP, but Hoecke's defense lawyers argue it held no central significance in National Socialism.
- Historians have been requested as witnesses to support this claim, with various publications on the SA and National Socialism cited in support.
- Previously, Hoecke was sentenced to a fine by the Landgericht Halle for using the same Nazi slogan at an election campaign event in Saxony-Anhalt in May 2021, a decision that is not legally binding as Hoecke has filed a revision.
