Kickl wins process: Court stops inadmissible Hitler comparison!

Kickl wins process: Court stops inadmissible Hitler comparison!

Herbert Kickl, the fpö chairman, has won another judicial proceedings against the “Platform Democracy Austria” association. The Vienna Higher Regional Court dismissed the association's appeal against a judgment of the commercial court and confirmed its decision, which condemned the association on injunction and compensation. Kickl, who is known for his statements and positions, receives compensation of 5,000 euros.

The object of the dispute was a video that compared Kickl with Adolf Hitler. The recording that was distributed on YouTube was with the provocative title "Want that? Our Austria is in danger" and warned of the political ambitions of Kickl, who described himself as a "Chancellor". In the video, a theater of war from the Second World War was shown in which Kickl's face was integrated in the lettering "Project Folk Chancellor".

judicial assessment

The commercial court had decided that the video Kickl connected to National Socialism without justifying an occasion. The judge made it clear that there was not a sufficient factual substrate for such a comparison. In particular, the use of the term "Chancellor" is not sufficient to establish a direct connection between Kickl and Adolf Hitler and the associated mass murder. This view was also shared by the Higher Regional Court, which largely supported the assessment of the commercial court.

The decision of the Higher Regional Court marks the end of the procedure because a revision has not been approved. This means that there are no further legal options for the association to act against the judgment. The legal steps were classified as important to clarify the limits of expression and criticism in the political arena.

consequences for the political discussion

The legal disputes about Kickl and the video throw a light on the current political tensions in Austria. They illustrate the challenges that arise from the use of historical comparisons in political discourse. Critics of such comparisons often argue that they are not only inadmissible, but also harmful to political culture and historical memory.

for Kickl, the judgment represents a further success in its ongoing struggle against the reporting that is perceived as defamatory. While he continues to pursue his views, it remains to be seen how the political landscape in Austria will develop under the influence of such arguments. Further information on this topic can be found in the analyzes and reports on The press and 5min , as well as in the comprehensive study on jku .