Jürgen Elsässer, whose magazine, Compact was banned in Germany says he remains staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin

By Christopher Kissmann, dpa I Saturday, August 17, 2024

 

BERLIN – The publisher of the far-right political magazine Compact, which was recently banned by the German government, attacked the government in Berlin and proclaimed his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

Jürgen Elsässer received a rousing ovation for his remarks at gathering of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Elsässer attacked Interior Minister Nancy Faeser as a fascist, called Defence Minister Boris Pistorius a war criminal and insulted Green Party leader Ricarda Lang in his opening remarks at the AfD conference.

“And of course I will not be banned from saying: I am a Putin supporter,” Elsässer declared to applause from the crowd.

Elsässer’s magazine, Compact, was outlawed by the German Interior Ministry on July 16 because it had allegedly become a “central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene.”

But Elsässer recently won a preliminary victory in court when judges raised doubts on the proportionality of government actions and lifted the ban, at least for the time being.

The decision from Germany’s Federal Administrative Court means that the magazine can resume publishing, subject to certain conditions.

The court has not yet made a final decision on the matter, however, and will hold additional proceedings.

Elsässaer presented himself confidently at the AfD conference in the city of Magdeburg, and said that his legal success showed that “victory is possible.”

He cheered the AfD toward power in upcoming state parliamentary elections in Saxony-Anhalt.

The publisher complained that the “predatory state” was still sitting on Compact property, and said that he would be seeking damages and compensation from Faeser.

He also announced his intention to set up an emergency mailing service and spoke of “thousands of orders” for the magazine.

According to Elsässer, he brought 200 copies of his magazine to the party conference to sell.