Overview

• The Administrative Court in Sigmaringen granted an emergency order requiring the city to make the Stadthalle’s Europasaal available on 8–9 November for the AfD’s delegate and program convention.
• Hechingen had canceled after adopting a new hall policy in September, but the court said the retroactive change appeared aimed at excluding the party and violated equal treatment in political competition.
• City arguments citing the 9 November Pogromnacht anniversary, the AfD’s classification as a suspected extremist case, prior rule breaches, limited parking, and anticipated counterprotests were deemed insufficient.
• The ruling notes the event’s potential to provoke yet emphasizes that an unbanned party may choose time and place, highlighting the convention’s significance ahead of the 8 March 2026 state election.
• The decision is provisional and the city can file a complaint to the Baden‑Württemberg Higher Administrative Court in Mannheim, with officials reviewing the 20‑page ruling before deciding next steps.