A week after being physically attacked while hanging campaign posters in Dresden, SPD MEP Matthias Ecke is speaking out against the rising extremism in Germany. He remains defiant following the assault, stating that he will not be silenced. Ecke believes that the attack was fueled by the organized desensitization in society, primarily by far-right groups. The attack left him with facial fractures and he required surgery.
Ecke made his first public appearance since the attack at an event organized by the SPD in Leipzig, where he expressed his determination to continue speaking out despite the violence he faced. He pointed fingers at extremist right-wing groups such as the AfD and the Freie Sachsen, who create an environment where political opponents become targets. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the attack, calling it a breach of the peace and a result of the deliberate poisoning of the social climate by far-right elements.
Faeser emphasized the need for a strong response from the authorities to combat such political aggression and hate crimes. She praised Ecke’s courage in speaking out and expressed support for the continued efforts of law enforcement to crack down on extremists. Ecke commended the police for their swift action in identifying the perpetrators but acknowledged that not all victims of right-wing violence receive the same level of attention.
The attack on Ecke is part of a series of escalating incidents targeting politicians, including an assault on a Green party campaigner and threats against a Green municipal politician in Dresden. In another incident, Berlin’s Economic Senator Franziska Giffey was attacked in a library. In response, federal and state interior ministers have called for better protection for politically active individuals and are considering tougher penalties for violence against politicians.
Discussions are underway to potentially criminalize threats and harassment of public officials in their homes, a practice known as political stalking. Ecke believes that the state must send a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will face consequences. The increasing attacks on politicians highlight the urgent need for decisive action to confront the rising extremism in Germany and protect those who are targeted for their political beliefs.
