One of Germany's most controversial politicians, Bjoern Hoecke, 52, is facing trial for using a banned Nazi slogan in the lead-up to crucial regional elections in Thuringia. Hoecke is the head of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Thuringia, where the party is leading in opinion polls ahead of the September elections.

Hoecke stands accused of using the phrase "Alles fuer Deutschland" ("Everything for Germany"), which was once a motto of the Nazi paramilitary group, Sturmabteilung. The use of this phrase is illegal in modern-day Germany, along with other Nazi-related slogans and symbols. Prosecutors believe Hoecke knowingly used the phrase, while Hoecke maintains that he was unaware of its association with the Nazis.

The trial, which began on Thursday in the city of Halle, is expected to last until mid-May. If convicted, Hoecke could face up to three years in prison, potentially complicating his bid for state premier. Outside the courtroom, several hundred protesters gathered, expressing their opposition to Hoecke and the AfD.

This trial is one of many controversies the AfD is currently facing ahead of EU elections in June and regional elections in Thuringia, Brandenburg, and Saxony. Founded in 2013, the AfD gained popularity due to concerns over rising migration, inflation, and a struggling economy. However, the party's support has wavered this year as it grapples with scandals, including allegations of senior members spreading pro-Russian positions on a Moscow-financed news website.

Hoecke, considered an extremist by German intelligence services, has a history of controversial statements. He has previously referred to Berlin's Holocaust monument as a "memorial of shame" and advocated for a "180-degree shift" in Germany's culture of remembrance.

The specific charges Hoecke faces include using the banned slogan at an election rally in Merseburg in Saxony-Anhalt and inciting the audience to respond with "Germany" at an AfD meeting in Thuringia. Hoecke, originally from western Germany, settled in Thuringia and played a significant role in founding the AfD in the region.

Although the outcome of the trial is unlikely to affect Hoecke's support in Thuringia, as his followers believe democratic institutions are targeting him, it may impact voters in western Germany, potentially damaging the party's image. Hoecke has been trying to improve his public image ahead of the EU elections, and during a recent television debate, he defended controversial claims, such as the party's concept of "remigration," which refers to repatriating Germans living abroad.

Germany's domestic security agency has designated the AfD in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt as "confirmed" extremist organizations. Despite the trial, Hoecke's bid for state premier in the upcoming regional elections remains significant.