Björn Höcke (AfD), chairman of the AfD parliamentary group. © Martin Schutt/dpa
The public prosecutor's office in Halle has brought charges against the chairman of the Thuringian AfD, Björn Höcke, who is classified as a right-wing extremist. The background to this is a speech by Höcke at the end of May 2021 in Merseburg, in which he is said to have used the banned SA slogan "Everything for Germany!", as the public prosecutor's office announced on Monday. Höcke was sufficiently suspicious as a result of the investigation.
Halle/Erfurt - Höcke is accused of using the symbols of unconstitutional organizations. According to the information, the indictment was already filed on May 16 at the Halle Regional Court.
The 51-year-old is accused of having known about the origin and significance of the slogan of the Sturmabteilung (SA) of the NSDAP. Höcke was a history teacher before his political career. According to the public prosecutor's office, Höcke denied the criminal relevance of his statement through his defense. The public prosecutor's office in Halle pointed out that a sufficient suspicion does not mean a prior conviction and that the presumption of innocence applies.
The Thuringian Justice Committee had only lifted Höcke's immunity in this case again in April, clearing the way for an indictment. The Thuringian AfD state association is classified and observed by the state protection of the constitution as secure right-wing extremist. Dpa