Berlin, Jul 1 (AP) A high-profile politician in the far-right Alternative for Germany party was convicted for the second time on Monday of knowingly using a Nazi slogan at a political event.

Bjorn Hocke, who plans to run for governor in the eastern state of Thuringia in September, was fined for using the banned Nazi slogan “Everything for Germany”.

Also Read | Mauritanian Presidential Election 2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani Wins Re-Election With 56.12% of Votes.

The Halle Regional Court found the 52-year-old guilty of using signs of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations and sentenced him to a fine of 130 daily rates of 130 euros each — or 16,900 euros (USD 18,000) — German news agency dpa reported.

An appeal against the ruling is possible. The conviction won't block him from running in the election.

Also Read | Rainbow Boa Snake ‘Ronaldo’ Gives Birth to 14 Snakes! Reptile Thought to be Male Delivers Snakelets in England’s Portsmouth in Rare Virgin Birth; What Does Parthenogenesis in Snakes Mean?.

The charge of using symbols of an unconstitutional organisation can carry a fine or up to three years in prison.

Hocke was already fined 13,000 euros in May, also for using symbols of an unconstitutional organisation, a verdict that his lawyers are appealing.

The earlier case centred on a speech in Merseburg in May 2021 in which Hocke used the phrase “Everything for Germany!” Judges last month agreed with prosecutors' argument that the former history teacher was aware of its origin as a slogan of the Nazis' SA stormtroopers.

In the current case, prosecutors alleged that he repeated the offense at an Alternative for Germany, or AfD, event in Gera in December, “in certain knowledge” that using the slogan is a criminal offense.

They alleged that Hocke said “Everything for ...” and encouraged the audience to shout “Germany!”

Hocke again insisted that he did nothing wrong, dpa reported.

“I am also completely innocent in this case,” he said. “I know I will be convicted. But that doesn't feel fair to me.”

Hocke questioned whether using the phrase of such everyday words constitutes a criminal offense.

In his ruling on Monday, Judge Jan Stengel said a video of the speech in Gera showed Hocke's "mimic approval” — meaning he had wanted people in the audience to complete the banned slogan, dpa reported.

Alternative for Germany has built a strong core of support, particularly in the formerly communist east — including Thuringia. The party's strength in that region helped propel it to a second-place finish in the European Parliament election earlier this month, taking 15.9 per cent of the vote despite recent scandals and setbacks. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)