Overview
- Bavaria’s Higher Administrative Court (VGH) allowed Björn Höcke to speak in Lindenberg and Seybothenreuth, ruling the likelihood of prohibited content was not sufficiently shown.
- Lindenberg and Seybothenreuth had invoked the recently added Article 21(1a) of the municipal code to block use of public halls, but both efforts failed on appeal.
- The AfD announced plans to ask the Bavarian Constitutional Court to strike down the provision, arguing it infringes on freedom of expression.
- Police reported roughly 3,500 protesters in Lindenberg and about 600 attendees at Höcke’s event in the city-owned Löwensaal, with demonstrations largely peaceful and an additional right‑wing rally of about 150 people.
- Municipal leaders called the law a “blunt sword” and urged lawmakers to tighten it, while experts and several politicians cautioned that high constitutional thresholds make bans difficult and risk backfiring.