Posted by 
Björn Höcke, who leads the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) in the state of Thuringia, has been found guilty of using a Nazi slogan for the second time.
A court in Halle, in eastern Germany, ruled Monday that the politician must pay a fine of €16,900 for using the first two words of the slogan “Everything for Germany!” at an AfD event in December, then encouraging the crowd to complete the phrase.
Using this phrase in political speeches is prohibited in Germany as it was used by Adolf Hitler’s SA storm troopers, the violent paramilitary that played a pivotal role in the Nazi rise to power in the 1930s.
Höcke is expected to appeal the verdict.
The AfD politician said he did not expect the crowd to complete the slogan, and told German news outlet Deutsche Welle that he is “a target of political persecution.”
In May, Höcke was fined €13,000 for closing a 2021 campaign speech with the same slogan. His lawyers also appealed that ruling.
The AfD remains the most popular party in Thuringia, with almost 29 percent support. In September, an election will be held in Thuringia — along with two other states in eastern Germany — and Höcke aims to become the state’s premier.
