Demo at the start of the trial

Nazi slogans: AfD-Höcke could lose the right to vote

Trial launched for Nazi slogans: Björn Höcke (AfD) came into the courtroom on Thursday morning with a grin and three lawyers.(Bild: AFP)

Thursday morning saw the start of the criminal trial against German AfD far-right politician Björn Höcke (52) in Halle. The Thuringian party leader is accused of using the Nazi slogan "Alles für Deutschland", the banned slogan of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the NSDAP's paramilitary fighting organization, at a meeting last December. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and even the loss of his right to vote. Hundreds of the politician's opponents demonstrated outside the court building on Thursday morning.

At 9.22 a.m., Höcke entered the courtroom in the Halle Justice Center (state of Saxony-Anhalt) together with his three lawyers. This is where the particularly serious cases are heard. The windows are made of bullet-proof glass, there are security gates with metal detectors and surveillance cameras.

Forbidden slogan of the SA
The Thuringian party leader is accused of using signs and slogans of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations. The 52-year-old is alleged to have used a banned slogan of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the NSDAP's paramilitary fighting organization. He is said to have known that this was a banned slogan.

"Halle against the right"
 Hundreds of opponents of the politician demonstrated in front of the court building in Halle. The police spoke of around 570 people. Everything was very peaceful, there were no disturbances. Among others, the groups "Halle against the Right" and the "Association of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime - League of Anti-Fascists" had called for gatherings.

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In addition to demonstrators, many media representatives also attended the opening of the trial. According to the police, operations at the court ran normally despite the assembly.

(Bild: The Associated Press)

Four trial days scheduled
In the state elections in Thuringia on September 1, Höcke wants to run as the AfD's top candidate. The party of the former history teacher is classified by the state's Office for the Protection of the Constitution as definitely right-wing extremist. 
Höcke had defended his choice of words shortly before the trial began.

The penalties in such cases range from a fine to a prison sentence of three years. The presumption of innocence applies until a possible conviction. Four trial days have been scheduled so far.

Björn Höcke on May 18, 2016 during an AfD party rally in Erfurt(Bild: The Associated Press)

(Bild: APA/dpa/Hendrik Schmidt)

What the trial means for Höcke politically
A spokeswoman for the court told Bild: "If he were sentenced to a prison term of at least six months, the court could also declare that he is no longer eligible to vote or stand for election for a maximum of five years and may also be unable to hold public office." This means that Höcke would no longer be eligible to stand for election and the AfD Thuringia would then need a new lead candidate for the state elections on September 1.