Far-right politician stands trial in Germany over alleged use of Nazi slogan

German far-right politician of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Bjorn Hocke, centre, attends his trial in the state court in Halle, Germany (Fabrizio Bensch/AP)

One of the most prominent figures in the far-right Alternative for Germany party has arrived in court for his trial on charges of using a Nazi slogan – months before a regional election in which he is running to become his state’s governor.

Bjorn Hocke, 52, is the leader of the regional branch of Alternative for Germany, or AfD, in the eastern state of Thuringia.