Pastörs was considered one of the leading cadres within the traditional right-wing extremist scene in Germany until AfD emerged.[1] Criminal investigations were repeatedly initiated against Pastörs. He was convicted several times for incitement to hatred and Holocaust denial and openly represented racist and anti-Semitic views. His political positions are based on historical National Socialism.[2]
His learned profession is that of a clockmaker. He is married and has one daughter with his wife, Marianne Pastörs.
He joined the NPD in 2000. In 2005 he became the leader of the party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. He was first elected to state parliament in 2006, receiving 7.3% of the vote. He has been leading the party fraction since 2006.
2019 European Court of Human Rights (ECHR or ECtHR) Decision
On 3 October 2019, the European Court of Human Rights unanimously decided on the case Pastörs v. Germany (application no. 55225/14)[6] that a decision from the German Courts sentencing him to eight months' imprisonment, suspended on probation, based on the fact that a speech made by German politician Udo Pastörs stating that "the so-called Holocaust is being used for political and commercial purposes", as well as other Holocaust denial comments, incurred in violation of the memory of the dead and of the intentional defamation of the Jewish people was not a violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Also, the ECtHR also decided by four votes to three that there had been no violation of Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention on Human Rights.[7]
