"The fundamental right to freedom of expression, as the most direct expression of human personality in society, is one of the most noble human rights of all. It is absolutely essential for a free and democratic system of government, because it makes possible the constant intellectual debate, the clash of opinions that is its lifeblood."

"On the one hand, the scope of protection of freedom of opinion includes opinions, i.e. statements characterized by the element of statement and opinion. They always fall within the scope of protection of Art. 5 para. 1 sentence 1 GG, regardless of whether they prove to be true or untrue, whether they are justified or unfounded, emotional or rational, or whether they are assessed as valuable or worthless, dangerous or harmless .... They do not lose this protection even if they are expressed in a sharp and exaggerated manner .... In particular, the person expressing an opinion is not obliged to share the values on which the constitution is based, as the Basic Law relies on loyalty to values, but does not enforce it."

"The state is not entitled to protection of honor based on fundamental rights. In principle, the state must also endure harsh and polemical criticism. In principle, state institutions may also be protected from verbal attacks, as they are unable to fulfill their function without a minimum level of social acceptance. However, their protection must not lead to shielding state institutions from public criticism - possibly even in harsh form - which is to be guaranteed in a special way by the fundamental right to freedom of expression and which is also countered by the right of the state to clearly and unequivocally reject erroneous factual representations or discriminatory value judgments. The weight of the fundamental right to freedom of opinion, which is the very foundation of the free and democratic order, must then be assessed particularly highly, as it has arisen precisely from the special need to protect the criticism of power and continues to find its significance in this."