[ad_1]
Marian Kotleba distributed 1,488 euros to three families in March 2017. And now he has been punished for it. The far-right MP said yesterday in court that he is the only politician in Europe who has been punished for distributing money.
Solo: 14-88 is not just any number. In the middle of the extreme right, 14 represents the 14 words with which the American terrorist David Lane said that the future of the white race and its children must be protected. The double 8 represents Heil Hitler.
No knowledge of numbers?
He was unaware of this, claimed Kotleba, the man who has been doing politics for years with fascist and National Socialist symbols.
The special criminal court judge failed to alleviate the 43-year-old from the educational gap and sentenced him to a good four years in prison.
That is strict, but it does not mean that Kotleba goes immediately to jail. He will appeal, that is considered safe, to the Supreme Court.
The stakes are high for Kotleba
The situation is definitely uncomfortable for Kotleba. If the highest judge confirms the verdict, not only must he go to prison, but he also loses his parliamentary seat. And his party, which has comparatively more seats in the Slovak parliament than the green liberals in the Swiss National Council, and his party, which is particularly successful among many young people, could be banned.
However, until possible, Kotleba will use the verdict to present himself as a martyr. Yesterday in court he wore a mask stamped with the number 1984, 1984 in reference to George Orwell’s novel, in which a totalitarian state harasses innocent citizens.
An interesting choice for a man who is supposedly unable to do anything with number symbolism.
Roman fillinger
Eastern European Correspondent, SRF
