Proceedings against Thuringia's AfD leader Höcke discontinued
The Gera public prosecutor's office has closed an investigation against Björn Höcke for defaming the state - with reference to previous convictions.
Quick Look
- The Gera public prosecutor's office has dropped proceedings against Thuringia's AfD leader Björn Höcke for denigrating the state.
- The reason is that Höcke has already been legally convicted by the Halle Regional Court.
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Why It Matters
Björn Höcke gave a speech in Gera on October 3, 2022, which led to investigations on suspicion of denigrating the state.
Thuringia's AfD, headed by Björn Höcke, is considered particularly radical. (Archive image) Photo: Katharina Kausche/dpa
Gera. The Gera public prosecutor's office has dropped proceedings against Thuringia's AfD leader Björn Höcke on suspicion of denigrating the state. The investigating authority pointed out that Höcke had already been convicted twice by the Halle regional court for using a banned SA slogan.
“The punishment that could be imposed for the reported crime would probably not be of any significant significance,” said the Gera public prosecutor’s office. The news portal “t-online” first reported on the discontinuation of the proceedings.
According to the Gera public prosecutor's office, the decision to refrain from prosecution in the proceedings was made in mid-December 2025. The proceedings concerned a speech by Höcke that he gave on German Unity Day on October 3, 2022 in Gera.
The Gera public prosecutor's office also justified the discontinuation of the proceedings by saying that in the event of a conviction, a total sentence would have had to be formed with the penalties of the Halle regional court's verdicts. Höcke was sentenced to fines of 100 daily rates and 130 daily rates of 130 euros each for using the SA slogan. The judgments are legally binding.
More: Spahn brings the disenfranchisement of Höcke into play
Open Questions
- What specific statements were made in the speech in Gera?
