Overview
- The Bavarian Administrative Court (VGH) ruled municipal bans on Björn Höcke speaking in Seybothenreuth and Lindenberg inadmissible, allowing both AfD events to proceed.
- Judges said the towns failed to show a high probability of imminent criminal or antisemitic content, so fundamental free‑speech protections could not be curtailed in these cases.
- The decision, issued in emergency proceedings and reported as final, resolved conflicting lower‑court rulings in Bayreuth and Augsburg.
- Counter‑protests accompanied the appearances: police counted about 300 demonstrators outside the Seybothenreuth venue versus roughly 200 attendees, and Lindenberg authorities anticipated around 2,000 protesters on Sunday.
- Local officials called for legislative clarification after the ruling, as debate continues over a new municipal rule intended to block Nazi‑glorifying content and in light of Höcke’s two convictions for using a banned SA slogan.