Björn Höcke, a prominent figure in Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party, is facing a second charge for using a Nazi slogan. He is set to go on trial in April, with prosecutors aiming to add this new charge to the proceedings. Höcke leads the party’s regional branch in Thuringia and is influential on the hard right, set to lead its state election campaign in September. The charge stems from an event in which Höcke allegedly used the slogan “Everything for Germany!” which prosecutors claim has Nazi origins as an SA stormtrooper slogan.
In the original case already scheduled for trial, Höcke is charged with using symbols of unconstitutional organizations. Prosecutors allege that he knowingly used the Nazi slogan at another political event in May 2021. In the new case, prosecutors claim he repeated the offense at an AfD event in December 2021, with knowledge of the slogan’s punishability. Höcke encouraged the audience to shout “Germany!” after saying “Everything for…” Prosecutors argue that Höcke’s words have criminal relevance, however, his lawyers have denied this. Höcke has not yet responded to the latest charges brought against him.
The far-right AfD party in Thuringia, led by Höcke, has been deemed a “proven right-wing extremist” group by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. Höcke has made controversial statements in the past, such as calling the Holocaust memorial in Berlin a “monument of shame” and advocating for Germany to rethink how it remembers its past. Despite attempts to have him expelled from the party, Höcke remains a prominent and influential figure in AfD. The party has been polling strongly in recent months, particularly in the former communist east of Germany, where it holds significant support.
The charges against Höcke highlight the ongoing struggle in Germany to address and combat far-right extremism. The use of Nazi slogans and symbols remains a sensitive issue given Germany’s history, and politicians like Höcke facing legal consequences for such actions reflects the country’s commitment to confronting its past. The rise of parties like AfD, which have been accused of harboring extremist views, poses a challenge to mainstream politics in Germany and raises concerns about the resurgence of far-right ideologies in the country. The outcome of the trial and how it is perceived by the public will likely have implications for German politics and society as a whole.
Höcke’s legal troubles come at a time when far-right parties are gaining ground in many European countries, presenting a broader challenge for democracies in the region. Germany’s response to far-right extremism, as exemplified by the prosecution of Höcke, serves as a model for other countries grappling with similar issues. The success or failure of efforts to address far-right ideologies within the political sphere will have repercussions beyond Germany, influencing debates on democracy, tolerance, and the limits of political expression in the broader European context. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched both within Germany and internationally, as a symbol of the country’s commitment to confronting extremism and upholding democratic values.
