Thuringia’s Minister of the Interior warns of further violence in election campaign
Following the attack on SPD politician Matthias Ecke in Dresden, a stand belonging to the AfD was also targeted. Thuringia’s Minister of the Interior has issued a warning about potential further acts of violence. The police in the city were alerted to an attack on an AfD stand, indicating a concerning trend of violence against politicians and election campaign helpers. Politicians in other federal states are also familiar with this issue.
In Dresden, following the attack on SPD European Parliament member Matthias Ecke, a campaign stand of the AfD was targeted by two 23-year-old women and a 28-year-old man who damaged posters, placards, and a table at the stand. Fortunately, the 54-year-old operator of the stand was not physically harmed during the incident. The police were able to apprehend the suspects based on witness testimonies, and the State Security has since taken over the investigation into the property damage. Additionally, a group of 20 youths damaged 21 election posters belonging to the AfD, FDP, CDU, and The Left in the Striesen district, and a 17-year-old was caught vandalizing a Left party poster in the Schandauer Straße – where Ecke and a Green Party election campaign helper were previously attacked.
The trend of election campaign related violence expanded to Leipzig, where unknown individuals damaged posters from various parties by tearing, burning, or removing them from their locations. Sachsens Minister President Michael Kretschmer expressed shock over the attacks, noting their resemblance to the darkest moments in history. The Minister President condemned the acts of violence and intimidation, emphasizing the importance of respecting different political opinions and engaging in democratic discourse without fear of reprisal or harm.
Thuringian Interior Minister Georg Maier anticipates further attacks and warns that recent acts of violence may be premeditated rather than spontaneous actions. He highlights the deliberate nature of these attacks, aimed at instilling fear and intimidation in political activists and democratic participants. The escalation of violence in election campaigns is a deeply concerning development that threatens the democratic process and the safety of those involved. The Minister called for vigilance and solidarity in defending democratic values against such threats.
The attack on Matthias Ecke and subsequent incidents in Dresden and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern highlight a worrying trend of increasing political violence in Germany. The recent increase in attacks on politicians, election campaign helpers, and party offices underscores the importance of addressing and preventing such actions to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process. Authorities are urged to take swift action to identify and hold perpetrators accountable for their violent acts, ensuring that all individuals can participate in the democratic process without fear of harm or intimidation. The rise of political violence poses a significant challenge to the democratic values and principles that underpin German society, requiring a coordinated and proactive response from all stakeholders to address and prevent such incidents in the future.
