German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is determined to combat the rise in violence targeting politicians, especially after a member of the European Parliament from Germany was hospitalized following an attack during his re-election campaign.
Matthias Ecke, a 41-year-old member of Faeser’s Social Democrats (SPD), was assaulted by a group of four individuals while putting up posters in Dresden, the capital of Saxony. The severity of his injuries necessitated surgical intervention.
In a separate incident, a 28-year-old campaigner for the Greens was also attacked by the same group while putting up posters, although his injuries were less severe.
Faeser emphasized the need for decisive action and increased protection for democratic forces in the country in response to these attacks, labeling the assault on Ecke as an assault on democracy.
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European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed her shock and sympathy for Ecke, denouncing the vicious attack.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that such acts pose a threat to democracy, attributing them to the divisive atmosphere that pits people against each other.
Saxony Premier Michael Kretschmer drew parallels between the aggression and intimidation tactics employed and the darkest chapters of German history under Nazi rule.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and European Parliament Head Roberta Metsola both condemned the attack on Ecke, calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
The surge in attacks on politicians, particularly those from the Greens party, has been attributed to the verbal hostility from extremists and populists towards democratic leaders, according to Faeser.
Far-right extremism is identified as the most significant threat to German democracy by the BfV domestic intelligence agency.
The rise in support for the far-right AfD has elevated it to second place in national polls, with strongholds in eastern states like Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. The Greens party faces the highest level of aggression, with attacks on their members increasing significantly in recent years.
2024-05-04 13:33:42
Post from www.theguardian.com