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Jürgen Elsässer, the editor-in-chief of the controversial "Compact" magazine, remains hopeful ahead of the ruling on the ban of his far-right publication. "We're optimistic that the court will make a democratic decision in our favor," Elsässer shared before attending the oral hearing at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig.
He conceded that facing a defeat isn't entirely out of the question. "If the verdict goes against us, the "Compact" era comes to a close," he acknowledged. If the unfavorable decision is upheld, the path to Germany's Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe is still open, but it won't postpone the immediacy of the ban.
Elsässer arrived at the courthouse with his wife Stephanie and Paul Klemm from the TV station affiliated with "Compact." With today marking their wedding anniversary, Elsässer referred to it as a special day.
Laurens Nothdurft, the magazine's legal representative, stated, "We're cautiously optimistic about the outcome. I'm eager to see which aspects the court will focus on during the oral hearing." In the recent evaluation, the 6th Senate took into account digital content and TV broadcasts concerning the case.
Many supporters of "Compact" gathered to show solidarity during the trial. Elsässer previously advised them to maintain decorum and avoid any disruptions, such as heckling, applause, or creating a commotion, on the "Compact" website.
The ban on "Compact" was enforced by the Federal Ministry of the Interior under then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in July 2024, due to the magazine being viewed as the central voice of the right-wing extremist scene and for inciting hatred and threatening the political order. "Compact" has challenged the ban with a lawsuit and an urgent application, requesting a halt to the enforced ban immediately. The Federal Court stands as the final authority for appeals against association bans.
An interim court decision partially lifted the ban last August, allowing the magazine to continue publishing temporarily while the proceedings are ongoing. The 6th Senate raised questions regarding the proportionality of the ban but pointed out that the ultimate decision remains undecided. The final verdict in the main proceedings is yet to be delivered.
The court has yet to announce when they will announce their verdict.
- Compact Magazine
- Ban Proceedings
- Jürgen Elsässer
- Extremism
- Leipzig
- Federal Ministry of the Interior
- BVerwG
- Federal Constitutional Court
- Karlsruhe
❗️Did You Know? According to the latest available reports, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig commenced hearings on June 10, 2025, to examine the ban on "Compact." This ban was leveled in July 2024 by then Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who claimed the magazine served as the mouthpiece for the right-wing extremist scene, stirring up hatred and attempting to disrupt the political order[2][4]. The court had previously temporarily lifted the ban in summary proceedings, enabling Compact to return to the newsstands[4][5]. Currently, the court's final decision, ruling on whether the ban aligns with Germany's constitutional guarantees on press freedom, is awaited and anticipated imminently — perhaps as soon as this week[4]. No definitive ruling has been announced in the main proceedings as of June 13, 2025[4][5].
- Jürgen Elsässer, the editor-in-chief of "Compact" magazine, expressed optimism ahead of the court's decision, stating, "We're optimistic that the court will make a democratic decision in our favor."
- The ban on "Compact" was imposed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior in July 2024 due to concerns over its association with right-wing extremism and incitement of hatred. The magazine challenged the ban and is awaiting a final decision from the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, which could potentially align with Germany's constitutional guarantees on press freedom.
