Far right expected to make gains in German regional vote

Political opponents say he’s a Nazi and a court recently ruled he can be called a fascist, but to many Germans angry about immigration Bjoern Hoecke is the leader they’ve been waiting for.

The 47-year-old former history teacher is predicted to lead the far-right Alternative for Germany party to third or even second place in a regional election Sunday, despite being considered a possible extremist threat by the country’s domestic intelligence agency. In a book published last year, Hoecke laid out his view that a “strong broom” is required to “clear the pigsty,” making clear that he would target migrants and political opponents using “well-tempered cruelty” if necessary.

Such language has alarmed even members of Hoecke’s own party, which has twice tried unsuccessfully to kick him out . Former party leader Frauke Petry argued there was sufficient evidence to show that Hoecke had written pseudonymous articles for neo-Nazi magazines, a conclusion shared by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.

Other parties have accused AfD of fueling violence against political opponents and minorities with its vocal criticism of immigration, a charge the party has strongly denied.

https://www.apnews.com/9ab1d81f54894bac8fded0c6180b2da0