New investigations - Immunity of AfD politician Höcke lifted again
The Justice Committee of the Thuringia State Parliament has once again cleared the way for criminal investigations against the chairman of the Thuringia AfD-State Faction, Bjoern Hoecke. The committee lifted Hoecke's immunity in a session on Wednesday.
Both AfD representatives in the committee opposed the decision, according to consensus in committee circles. The other present committee members therefore voted for the lifting of Hoecke's immunity. The decision is based on a corresponding application from the Prosecutor's Office Gera.
The prosecutor's office intends to investigate Hoecke due to the suspicion that the 52-year-old defamed the German state in a speech on October 3, 2022, in Gera, said a spokesperson for the Prosecutor's Office Gera. In the view of the investigators, this initial suspicion arises from several longer passages in the speech. The spokesperson did not provide further details.
Paragraph 90a of the Criminal Code penalizes the defamation of the state and its symbols. The provision threatens anyone who insults or contemptuously disregards the Federal Republic of Germany, a federal state, or the constitutional order at a gathering with up to three years in prison.
Immunity repeatedly lifted
Hoecke did not want to comment on the new investigations against him. "Bjoern Hoecke will not make any further statements on this matter," said a spokesperson for Hoecke. The Justice Committee of the Land Parliament has already lifted Hoecke's immunity on several occasions.
Most recently, Hoecke was found guilty in two proceedings before the Halle Regional Court for the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations. Both judgments are not yet legally binding.
Members of the Thuringian State Parliament enjoy immunity, which means they are protected from criminal prosecution. The investigating authorities may only proceed against them fundamentally if the Justice Committee of the Parliament has authorized investigations against them.
- Despite the opposition from AfD representatives in the Justice Committee, Björn Höcke's immunity was once again lifted, allowing for criminal investigations to commence.
- The Prosecutor's Office in Gera applied for the lifting of Höcke's immunity, citing his alleged defamation of the German state in a speech held in Gera on October 3, 2022.
- The public prosecutor's office believes that several passages in Höcke's speech have contributed to this initial suspicion, and they intend to investigate further.
- Section 90a of the Criminal Code in Germany penalizes the defamation of the state and its symbols, with potential punishments including up to three years in prison.
- This is not the first time that Höcke's immunity has been lifted; the Justice Committee of the Thuringia State Parliament has previously authorized investigations against him on multiple occasions.
- Though he remained silent on this matter, a spokesperson for Höcke stated that he would not make any further comments regarding the new investigations.
- The indicated proceedings before the Halle Regional Court found Höcke guilty of using symbols of unconstitutional organizations, though these judgments have yet to become legally binding.
