Prominent AfD figure stands trial for using Nazi slogan

Björn Höcke, 52, claims the banned phrase he used was simply an English translation of Donald Trump's 'America First' mantra.

Transcript

00:00 A prominent figure in Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD party, is standing

00:09 trial for using a banned Nazi-era slogan.

00:13 Bajon Hocker allegedly repeated the phrase "Everything for Germany" twice at political

00:18 rallies.

00:19 The phrase was once a motto of the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi party.

00:24 "By asking about the office of the prime minister, you are interested in who that is.

00:31 Then you are confronted with the fact that it is a politician who, according to his statements,

00:36 according to his programmatic goals, can be identified as a right-wing extremist and a

00:41 fascist."

00:42 Hocker denies he was aware of the origins of the slogan, claiming it is a common and

00:49 everyday phrase.

00:51 If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison.

00:55 Hocker is preparing to run for the state governor in autumn elections in the region of Thuringia.

01:01 "The attempts to classify the AfD and individual politicians as right-wing extremists and fascists

01:09 did not represent a particular obstacle to the rise of the AfD.

01:16 In this respect, I assume that the current process will end in the sense that Höcke

01:23 is the victim, Germany is a country where freedom of expression is restricted."

01:31 The trial is the latest in a long string of controversy that has impacted the AfD party

01:36 in the run-up to the European elections in June.

01:39 "I think it's a good thing that the AfD is not a party.

01:40 I think it's a good thing that the AfD is not a party.

01:41 I think it's a good thing that the AfD is not a party.

01:42 I think it's a good thing that the AfD is not a party.

01:43 I think it's a good thing that the AfD is not a party.

01:44 I think it's a good thing that the AfD is not a party.

01:45 I think it's a good thing that the AfD is not a party.