The AfD politician Björn Höcke is on trial in Halle. Did he knowingly use a banned SA slogan? Shortly before the trial began, the charges were changed - not for the first time.
Halle - Shortly before the start of the trial against Thuringia's AfD leader Björn Höcke, the scope of the indictment was changed. The chamber decided on Wednesday to separate the charges relating to the use of the banned slogan “Everything for Germany” in Gera from the case in Merseburg, said court spokeswoman Adina Kessler-Jensch on Thursday morning in Halle. The reason for this is that Höcke's defenders changed at short notice. The Thuringian party leader is accused of using the symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations. The penalty is between a fine and a prison sentence of three years.
Höcke's new defense has not yet accessed the files relating to the incident in Gera and therefore has not had sufficient time to prepare for the hearing on Thursday. “This part of the accusation will not be the subject of today’s main hearing,” said Kessler-Jensch.
Specifically, Höcke is accused of using the banned slogan of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the paramilitary fighting organization of the NSDAP. The starting point for the accusation against Höcke is a speech that he gave in May 2021 in Merseburg in Saxony-Anhalt (Saalekreis). Initially, only this speech should be part of the main hearing. Höcke defended his choice of words shortly before the trial began.
The politician is also accused of having used the slogan at an AfD event in Gera, Thuringia, last December. In Gera, as a speaker, Höcke is said to have said the first part “Everything for” himself and used gestures to encourage the audience to shout “Germany”. The charges relating to this incident have now been separated from the points relating to the speech in Merseburg. The court only decided last Friday to add the points about Gera's speech to the indictment.
The former history teacher wants to run as the AfD's top candidate in the state elections in Thuringia on September 1st. His party is classified as right-wing extremist by the state Office for the Protection of the Constitution. For the first day of the main hearing it can be assumed that - as usual - the indictment will be read out. Höcke then has the opportunity to comment on the allegations himself or through his defense attorney.
Höcke will not only have to face a trial in Halle. An indictment was also admitted at the Mühlhausen regional court in Thuringia - there it concerns the accusation of incitement to hatred. There have been numerous investigations against Höcke. In Halle he now has to appear in court for the first time. dpa