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