Germany issues entry ban on prominent Austrian far-right figure known for promoting 'remigration'

BERLIN — German authorities have issued an entry ban on a prominent Austrian European far-right figure known for his talk about “remigration” at a recent meeting of nationalist populists that triggered large protests against populism in the country.

Martin Sellner of the Identitarian Movement said in a video posted Tuesday on social media platform X that German authorities sent his lawyer a letter saying he wasn't allowed to enter Germany for the next three years and if he happened to be on German soil, he had to leave within a month.

Local media outlets, including Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Spiegel, cited German officials confirming Sellner’s entry ban.

Lately, Germany has seen large protests against the far right following a report that extremists met in Potsdam near Berlin in November to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship. Sellner presented his “remigration” vision for the deportation of immigrants there.

The Alternative for Germany party, some of whose members reportedly attended the meeting, has also been facing widespread criticism. The party has sought to distance itself from the event, while also decrying media reports that covered it.

During the weekend, Sellner was set to give a speech in the Swiss Aargau canton (state) when he was thrown out and escorted to Zurich.

Identitarians belong to an extreme right movement that started in France and mainly campaign against immigrants and Islam.