Court Imposes Speaking Ban on AfD Politician Höcke in Upper Franconia
A regional court in Bayreuth has issued a legal order barring Björn Höcke, a prominent member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, from speaking at an upcoming party event in Upper Franconia. The decision follows an urgent application and is based on newly enacted provisions in the Bavarian municipal code.
The AfD event, scheduled to take place in the multipurpose hall in Seybothenreuth, will proceed without Höcke as a speaker. Authorities in Bayreuth cited recent changes to local regulations, which allow municipalities to restrict access to public facilities if there is a reasonable expectation that the event will include content that endorses, glorifies, or justifies the National Socialist regime or contains antisemitic elements. This provision has been in effect since January 2026.
Höcke, who leads the AfD in Thuringia, has previously been convicted twice for the use of prohibited Nazi slogans, which played a role in the court's assessment of anticipated content at the event. The decision to enforce a speaking ban, rather than a complete prohibition of the event, aligns with prior judicial guidance recommending less restrictive measures when feasible.
Meanwhile, Höcke's planned appearance at another AfD event in Lindenberg, located in the Allgäu region, is also under scrutiny. The city administration has already denied him permission to speak at the scheduled gathering in the town hall. The AfD has lodged an urgent appeal with the administrative court in Augsburg to contest this restriction, with a decision expected soon.
Initially, both Seybothenreuth and Lindenberg had sought to deny the AfD access to municipal venues altogether. However, a preliminary ruling from the Augsburg administrative court determined that a total ban was not legally justified. The court instead advised that prohibiting individual speakers, such as Höcke, would constitute a more proportionate response under the law.
Public demonstrations against the AfD and its events are anticipated in both locations, with thousands expected to participate in protest activities. Ludwig Spaenle, Bavaria's commissioner for antisemitism, has announced plans to attend a counter-demonstration in Lindenberg, supporting the city's measures against far-right extremism.
The legal actions surrounding these events highlight the implementation of new municipal authority to prevent the use of public spaces for gatherings likely to convey extremist or antisemitic messages. The court's decisions reflect an increased emphasis on safeguarding public venues from potential abuse by individuals or groups with a history of violating German laws related to hate speech and the glorification of the Nazi regime.