Näncy No. 2: Provocative analyzes for freedom of expression and Merz government

Näncy No. 2: Provocative analyzes for freedom of expression and Merz government

Falkensee, Deutschland - On May 31, 2025, the compact ban is faced with a decisive main decision. At the same time, Näncy No. 2, a magazine that published content during the ban on compact. Published by Anselm Lenz and Hendrik Sodenkamp from the democratic resistance, the second edition of Näncy comes with a provocative cover that the headline "Halt it's mouth, Fritz!" Wear. The first edition of Näncy was already sold out.

background to the ban on compact

The prohibition of the right-wing compact magazine was imposed in July 2024 by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and then checked by the Federal Administration. The Federal Administrative Court has partially put out the ban in the urgent procedure. The court expressed doubts about the proportionality of the prohibition and decided that the suspensive effect of the complaint of the publisher is restored, which allows the magazine to appear again.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior described Compact as the "central mouthpiece of the right -wing extremist scene" and justified the ban with the assertion that the publication was directed against the constitutional order. According to the court, however, there are indications that the violations found are not sufficient to evaluate the ban as proportionate. While formally the prohibition of prohibitions is considered lawful, the question remains whether the magazine actually violates human dignity.

freedom of expression and its limits

The discussion about the ban and publication of Compact and Näncy raises central questions about freedom of expression. Article 5 of the Basic Law makes it clear that freedom of expression in Germany is an important part of democracy. Restrictions on this freedom are only possible under certain conditions and must build on specific dangers for legal goods. It becomes clear that freedom of expression also has to protect critical statements against the constitution.

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry defended the ban as comprehensively justified and proven by the evidence of the security authorities. Critics, as Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki from the FDP, demanded milder means and described Faeser's approach as rushed. The German Journalist Association sees the judicial decision as a commitment to freedom of the press and criticizes the prohibition as a political rapid shot.