Thuringian AfD council member reportedly screamed Nazi phrases.
The German domestic intelligence agency considered the Thuringia AfD to be securely right-wing extremist starting from 2021. Recently, a politician from this party has been under investigation for using NS slogans publicly in two instances.
In the city of Sonneberg, a city councilor associated with the AfD is being investigated by the police due to allegations that he yelled "Sieg Heil" and "Heil Hitler" in two separate establishments. The police have confirmed they've received two complaint reports about the politician, who is reportedly named Alexander Escher.
The first incident allegedly occurred at the "Gewölbe Bar" in the spring of 2022. According to reports, Escher shouted "Sieg Heil" twice and was later issued a house ban. The second incident took place at the "Dachshöhlen" restaurant, owned by Peter End, in December 2022. The politician entered the restaurant at a later hour and loudly yelled "Heil Hitler", which all the guests heard. As a result, End threw him out.
The investigations were sparked by the use of symbols from unconstitutional organizations. They became public after news reports surfaced. The AfD state association was made aware of the accusations, as press spokesman Torben Braga confirmed. Escher was asked for a statement, but he denied the allegations and was advised to take legal action against them instead.
The Thuringian AfD has been classified as solidly right-wing extremist by the state domestic intelligence agency since March 2021. Sonneberg caused a stir last year when Robert Sesselmann was elected the first AfD district administrator in the entire country. In the municipal elections held the previous weekend, the AfD emerged as the strongest force in Sonneberg.
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The investigation into the Thuringia AfD councilor's use of Nazi slogans has raised questions about the party's adherence to National Socialism, as Adolf Hitler's phrases were echoed in the incidents. Despite these controversies, the AfD continues to gain political influence, as evidenced by Robert Sesselmann's election as the first AfD district administrator in Sonneberg in 2021.
