Justice Committee
Höcke’s immunity lifted due to investigations into SA slogans
Björn Höcke is said to have used the slogan “Everything for Germany” at a meeting in Gera in December, the banned slogan of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the NSDAP’s paramilitary fighting organization. photo
© Martin Schutt/dpa
Because AfD man Höcke is said to have used a banned Nazi slogan again, the Thuringian state parliament’s justice committee has cleared the way for investigations.
In connection with investigations into a banned Nazi statement The Justice Committee of the Thuringian State Parliament has again revoked the immunity of AfD politician Björn Höcke. This was confirmed by several sources in the state parliament on Saturday. Accordingly, the committee approved such a step on Friday.
Höcke himself wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that it was the eighth time that his immunity had been lifted. Immunity protects MPs from prosecution. If a public prosecutor wants to investigate her, the Justice Committee must approve the investigation. MDR Thuringia first reported online about the current decision.
Well-known accusation: Höcke is said to have used SA slogans
The background is therefore investigations by the Gera public prosecutor’s office. The Thuringian AfD state and faction chairman is said to have used the slogan “Everything for Germany” at a meeting in Gera in December, the banned slogan of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the paramilitary fighting organization of the NSDAP.
Because he is said to have used the saying in a speech in Merseburg in Saxony-Anhalt at the end of May 2021, the Halle public prosecutor’s office brought charges. Immunity was also lifted for these investigations at the time. In this case, Höcke will have to answer before the regional court in Halle from mid-April for the alleged use of license plates of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations. The investigation into the December incident in Gera should now be handed over to the Halle public prosecutor’s office. They are intended to be linked to the proceedings that have already been initiated because of the use of the same slogan.
Further criminal proceedings
An indictment was also admitted against Höcke at the regional court in Mühlhausen (Thuringia) on charges of incitement to hatred. The background is a post by the former history teacher on Telegram.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Thuringia classifies Höcke as a right-wing extremist. In Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, the AfD is considered right-wing extremist. Höcke is expected to run as the top candidate for the AfD in the Thuringian state elections on September 1st.