In October 2022, AfD politician Björn Höcke gave a speech that is now being investigated by the public prosecutor’s office. The state parliament has granted their request to have his immunity lifted.
The Justice Committee of the Thuringian State Parliament has once again cleared the way for criminal investigations against the chairman of the Thuringian AfD parliamentary group, Björn Höcke. According to information from the news agency DPA, the committee lifted Höcke’s immunity in a meeting.
The two AfD representatives on the committee voted against the decision, it was said unanimously from committee circles. The other committee members present therefore voted for the lifting of Höcke’s immunity. The decision was based on a corresponding application by the Gera public prosecutor’s office.
Björn Höcke’s immunity has been lifted several times
The prosecutor’s office wants to investigate Höcke on suspicion that the 52-year-old denigrated the German state in a speech on October 3, 2022 in Gera, said a spokesman for the Gera public prosecutor’s office. From the investigators’ point of view, this initial suspicion is based on several longer passages of the speech. He did not provide any further details.
Paragraph 90a of the Criminal Code criminalizes the denigration of the state and its symbols. The provision threatens up to three years in prison for anyone who insults or maliciously disparages the Federal Republic of Germany, a federal state or the constitutional order at a gathering.
Höcke did not want to comment on the new investigations against him. “Björn Höcke will not comment further on this matter,” said a spokesman for Höcke. The state parliament’s justice committee has since lifted Höcke’s immunity several times.
Members of the state parliament enjoy protection from prosecution
In two trials before the Halle Regional Court, Höcke was recently found guilty of using symbols of unconstitutional organizations. Both verdicts are not yet final.
Members of the Thuringian state parliament enjoy immunity, i.e. protection from criminal prosecution. The investigative authorities may only take action against them after the parliamentary justice committee has approved investigations against them.
Source: Stern
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