Lindenberg: 3,500 individuals show in opposition to Höcke’s look within the Allgäu | EUROtoday

After Björn Höcke was allowed to seem at an AfD occasion within the Allgäu following a courtroom ruling, round 3,500 individuals demonstrated in opposition to the Thuringian celebration chief in Lindenberg on Sunday. Lindenberg has 11,500 inhabitants. The occasion with Höcke happened within the municipal Löwensaal.

Höcke had already carried out in Seybothenreuth on Saturday night. According to police, round 200 individuals got here to the AfD occasion there. A counter-rally with round 300 contributors had additionally fashioned in entrance of the corridor.

Before Höcke’s look on Sunday night in Lindenberg, the “Open Antifascist Meeting Westallgäu”, amongst others, referred to as for the demo. “Together against the AfD and the shift to the right”, “AfD = Abyss for Germany” and “Young Future Socialism” have been among the many slogans on the demonstrators’ banners.

There have been additionally round 150 contributors in one other demonstration, which, in line with a police spokeswoman, was a part of the “right-wing spectrum”. According to the police, this assembly on “current politics, conscription, war and migration, pensions and the economic situation” happened on the Lower Town Square.

According to the police, the demonstrations and rallies have been largely peaceable. It was mentioned that there have been just a few disruptions.

The AfD occasion within the Löwensaal was capable of happen with none additional hindrances. In his hour-long speech, Höcke referred to as on his supporters, in line with the “Augsburger Allgemeine,” to “become you again.” It was “ridiculous” that they tried to remove his proper to talk, mentioned Höcke.

The Thuringian AfD chief used the authorized dispute over a ban on talking upfront as a chance to query democracy. He shouldn’t be the “devil of the nation”, however fairly the “guardian of democracy”.

Municipalities are demanding penalties after a authorized defeat

After the authorized tug of conflict over the 2 speeches by the Thuringian AfD chief, the 2 affected municipalities are actually demanding penalties. “The new legal regulation has turned out to be a blunt sword,” mentioned the mayor of Lindenberg (Lindau district), Eric Ballerstedt, who was additionally on the demonstration in opposition to the AfD.

Both Lindenberg and Seybothenreuth within the Bayreuth district wished to take authorized motion in opposition to Höcke being allowed to talk at AfD election marketing campaign occasions in municipal halls. A authorized backwards and forwards started: the Bayreuth administrative courtroom banned a public speech in Seybothenreuth, whereas the Augsburg administrative courtroom allowed an look in Lindenberg. Finally, the Bavarian Administrative Court (VGH) in Munich was the following occasion to announce on Friday night that each appearances have been permissible.

“The city of Lindenberg as well as the municipality of Seybothenreuth, which has also lost in court, urgently call on the legislature to react to this decision by the VGH,” wrote Ballerstedt.

“Höcke has no place in the state parliament”

On Saturday morning – earlier than the appearances in Upper Franconia and Allgäu – the AfD parliamentary group within the state parliament organized a white sausage breakfast with Höcke within the parliament constructing. The criticism from the CSU and the Greens was clear: “We don’t need any right-wing extremist chatter in the Bavarian state parliament,” mentioned CSU parliamentary group chief Klaus Holetschek. “It’s enough for AfD members of the state parliament to talk crazy stuff.” But he additionally mentioned: “We shouldn’t make the appearance of a radical bigger than it is – our democracy is stronger.” The AfD is simply in search of a brand new sufferer function anyway.

New regulation within the municipal code

Mayor Ballerstedt additional wrote that the courtroom resolution to seem in Lindenberg got here as “somewhat surprising”. The administrative courtroom in Augsburg had beforehand given the clue as to how a ban might be achieved. “It is disappointing that this path cannot now be taken.” At the identical time, the query arises as to during which instances the appliance of the regulation is even conceivable.

The background to the dispute over the Höcke speeches was that the AfD politician was legally convicted twice for utilizing a Nazi slogan. In addition, the Bavarian municipal code has had a brand new regulation for a couple of weeks, in line with which the usage of public areas will be denied if an occasion is anticipated to include “content that condones, glorifies or justifies the National Socialist violent and arbitrary rule, or anti-Semitic content.”

According to the VGH, nonetheless, such content material can’t be anticipated with adequate likelihood even with Höcke as speaker. The judges emphasised that the liberty of expression enshrined within the Basic Law shouldn’t be restricted.