Far-Right German Politician Convicted of Using Nazi Slogan

Björn Höcke, a prominent figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany party, has been convicted of knowingly using a Nazi slogan in a speech and ordered to pay a fine.

A court in Germany has convicted Björn Höcke, a prominent figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, of using a Nazi slogan in a speech. The verdict comes months before a regional election in the eastern state of Thuringia, where Höcke plans to run for governor.

The state court in the eastern city of Halle convicted Höcke of using symbols of a former Nazi organization and imposed a fine totaling about $14,000. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

Prosecutors had sought a six-month suspended sentence, while defense lawyers argued for acquittal. The case centered on a speech in Merseburg in May 2021 in which Höcke used the phrase "Everything for Germany!" Prosecutors contended he was aware of its origin as a slogan of the Nazis' SA stormtroopers, but Höcke argued that it is an "everyday saying."

Court spokesperson Adina Kessler-Jensch said judges were convinced that Höcke was aware the formulation was a banned SA slogan. Presiding Judge Jan Stengel told Höcke that "you are an articulate, intelligent man who knows what he is saying," according to German news agency dpa.

The former history teacher testified at the trial that he is "completely innocent" and described himself as a "law-abiding citizen." The 52-year-old Höcke is an influential figure on the hard right of AfD. He has led the AfD's regional branch in Thuringia since 2013 and is due to lead its campaign in a state election set for September 1.

Höcke has a history of making controversial statements. He once called the Holocaust memorial in Berlin a "monument of shame" and called for Germany to perform a "180-degree turn" in how it remembers its past. A party tribunal in 2018 rejected a bid to have him expelled.

Prosecutor Benedikt Bernzen argued in Tuesday's closing arguments that Höcke had used Nazi vocabulary "strategically and systematically" in the past, according to dpa. Höcke accused prosecutors of not looking for exonerating circumstances and argued that freedom of opinion is limited in Germany.

It's questionable whether the conviction will have any significant political effect on Höcke's ambitions. It won't have any direct legal effect on his candidacy.

AfD is particularly strong in Germany's formerly communist east, where Thuringia is located. It's unlikely that any other party will agree to work with Höcke and put him in the governor's office, but AfD's strength has made forming governing coalitions in the region very complicated.

The Thuringia branch of AfD is one of three that the domestic intelligence agency has under official surveillance as a "proven right-wing extremist" group. On Monday, a court ruled in a separate case that the agency was justified in putting the whole party under observation for suspected extremism. AfD has portrayed the designation as a political attempt to discredit the party and said it will seek to appeal.