The city of Lindenberg in the Allgäu region of Bavaria is preparing to enforce a speaking ban on Björn Höcke, the leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, at an upcoming campaign event. This decision follows a ruling by the Administrative Court of Augsburg, which deemed the complete withdrawal of the town hall's rental agreement to the AfD as unlawful. However, the court suggested that a less severe measure, specifically a speaking ban on Höcke, was permissible under the circumstances.

A spokesperson for the city administration announced that this course of action would be taken and that the speaking ban would be issued today. The situation suggests potential for further legal proceedings since the local AfD chapter had not provided a comment on the matter at the time of reporting. Lindenberg officials anticipate that the AfD may challenge the speaking ban in court, continuing the already tense debate surrounding freedom of speech and political campaigning in the region.

This development reflects the ongoing struggles and controversies surrounding far-right political actors in Germany, highlighting the local government's attempts to navigate legal frameworks while addressing public concerns about extremist rhetoric. As the local election season heats up, the implications of this decision may resonate well beyond Lindenberg, potentially influencing similar debates in other municipalities across Bavaria and beyond.