More than a hundred federal politicians have condemned the increasing violence against democratic politicians in a joint statement following the brutal attack on SPD European Parliament Member Matthias Ecke in Dresden. The “Striesener Declaration” was published on the Brand New Bundestag website, with signatories including SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, Green Party leader Ricarda Lang, and FDP deputy faction leader Konstantin Kuhle. The statement emphasized unity in denouncing the escalating violence against politically engaged individuals in public spaces. Ecke was assaulted by four attackers in Dresden’s Striesen district, resulting in severe injuries, including a fractured cheekbone and eye socket. The attackers also targeted a Green Party campaign worker before the assault on Ecke.
A 17-year-old youth confessed to the assault on Ecke, turning himself in to the police. The youth, who had no prior criminal record, admitted to hitting the politician. The motivations behind the attacks on Ecke and the Green Party campaign worker are still unclear, with further investigations being conducted by the police’s state security unit. Additional incidents of political violence, including vandalism of campaign posters in Leipzig and Taucha, were also reported. Ecke, who is the leading SPD candidate in Saxony for the European elections, underwent surgery for his injuries and is expected to continue his campaign despite the ordeal.
In response to the attack, a demonstration in Dresden drew around 2000 people advocating for democracy and condemning violence. Political figures such as SPD leader Saskia Esken, Green Party Minister Claudia Roth, and Saxony’s Minister of Justice Katja Meier joined the demonstration. The demonstration highlighted the importance of standing against those who undermine democracy and resort to violence. The incident prompted widespread outrage across party lines, with politicians like Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier calling for a peaceful resolution to political disputes.
The wave of attacks on politicians and campaign workers in the lead-up to the municipal and European elections on June 9 has raised concerns about the safety of political engagement. Various parties, including the Greens, have called for increased protection for politicians and campaign volunteers. The focus has shifted from attacks on AfD members in 2019 to the Greens in recent incidents, reflecting a broader trend of heightened political aggression. Politicians across party lines have denounced the violence and emphasized the need for respectful and non-violent political discourse.
Leading figures like Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, and Marco Buschmann have condemned the attacks and called for unity in defending democracy against violent threats. Suggestions for enhanced security measures and stricter penalties for offenders have been proposed by officials like Markus Lewe from the German City Council and North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Justice Herbert Reul. The incidents underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to address the rising violence and uphold democratic values in political engagement.
