BERLIN (AP) — A leading politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany party was convicted for the second time Monday for knowingly using a Nazi slogan at a political event.
Björn Höcke, who plans to become governor of the eastern state of Thuringia in September, was fined for using the banned Nazi slogan “Everything for Germany”.
The Halle regional court found the 52-year-old guilty of using signs of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations and sentenced him to a fine of 130 daily rates of 130 euros each – or 16,900 euros ($18,000), German news agency dpa reported.
An appeal against the verdict is possible. The conviction will not prevent him from participating in the elections.
Using symbols of an unconstitutional organization can lead to a fine or up to three years in prison.
Höcke was already fined 13,000 euros in May, also for using symbols of an unconstitutional organization. His lawyers are appealing this.
The earlier case revolved around a speech in Merseburg in May 2021 in which Höcke used the phrase “Everything for Germany!” Judges last month agreed with prosecutors’ argument that the former history teacher was aware of its origins as a slogan of the Nazi SA storm troopers.
In the current case, prosecutors alleged that he repeated the offence at an Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) event in Gera in December, “knowing” that using the slogan is a criminal offence.
They claimed that Höcke said: “Everything for …” and encouraged the audience to chant “Germany!”
Höcke continued to maintain that he had done nothing wrong, dpa reports.
“I am also completely innocent in this case,” he said. “I know I will be convicted. But that doesn’t feel fair to me.”
Höcke wondered whether using such everyday words is a criminal offense.
In his ruling on Monday, Judge Jan Stengel said a video of the speech showed Gera Höcke’s “mimetic approval” – meaning he wanted people in the audience to finish the banned slogan, dpa reported.
Alternative for Germany has built a strong core of support, particularly in the former communist east — including Thuringia. The party’s strength in that region helped it to a second-place finish in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, with 15.9% of the vote despite recent scandals and setbacks.
