Summer festival should not take place
**After the ban on a summer festival of the far-right magazine "Compact," a planned "Freedom of the Press Summer Festival" for Saturday could not take place at the same location. The Administrative Court Halle confirmed, according to its own statements, a prohibition order from the responsible police inspection. The chamber agreed with the police's opinion that it was a replacement event for the banned "Compact" magazine, said Court President Andreas Pfersich.
An appeal can still be filed against the judgment at the Higher Administrative Court. The festival was to take place at the estate of former AfD politician André Poggenburg.
The "Compact" magazine was banned by the Federal Interior Ministry a week ago. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the magazine as far-right extremist. Therefore, the Saturday summer festival of the magazine on the estate of the former AfD state chairman Poggenburg in Burgenlandkreis was also prohibited. His residence has been in the spotlight of the authorities for some time, as it is considered a meeting place for the so-called New Right. In connection with the ban, there was also a search by the authorities on the estate.
Martin Sellner, a far-right activist, was announced for the summer festival. After the ban, "Aufbruch Deutschland" announced a "Freedom of the Press Summer Festival" as a new organizer: at the same time and at the same place as the previously banned event of "Compact". "Aufbruch Deutschland" describes itself as a nationwide interest group. Poggenburg is listed as a representative in the Imprint.**
After the cancellation of the "Freedom of the Press Summer Festival" due to the prohibition of the "Compact" magazine's event, plans for a similar festival by "Aufbruch Deutschland" were met with a compact-prohibition as well. Despite the ban, the location of the original festival, Poggenburg's estate, remained a focal point for far-right activities.
