Two AfD politicians were attacked in front of the state parliament in Stuttgart before a celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the Grundgesetz. The two lawmakers were lightly injured but did not require medical treatment. According to the police, the men were verbally and physically assaulted by suspected party opponents at an information stand set up by the parliamentary faction on the Opera Square. The attackers fled towards the parliament and two young women, aged 19 and 23, were stopped. The police are investigating their involvement in the incident and have taken their personal details.
The suspects are still being sought, with video footage being analyzed and the State Security Service launching an investigation. The police are urging witnesses to come forward. The attacked lawmakers, deputy faction leader Miguel Klauß and security policy spokesperson Hans-Jürgen Goßner, accused left-wing extremists of the attack. Klauß claimed he was struck in the head, while Goßner said a young woman hit him in the neck. Klauß reported that five to six young people, mostly women, unfurled a banner with the slogan “No peace for right-wing agitators, AfD & their supporters.” They have filed a criminal complaint, and Klauß stated that the incident involved both verbal and physical aggression.
Landtag President Muhterem Aras condemned all forms of violence in political discourse following the attack. She expressed regret over the disruptions at the AfD faction’s stand and emphasized the importance of open dialogue and tolerance of differing opinions in a democracy. Aras emphasized that violence should never be a means of political engagement. The security service and the state parliament promptly intervened in the incident. The parliament administration remains in communication with both the AfD faction and the police in response to the incident.
Recent attacks on politically active individuals, such as SPD politician Matthias Ecke in Dresden and Berlin’s SPD Senator Franziska Giffey, have caused concern nationwide. The State Criminal Police Office in Saxony has linked at least one attacker in the Ecke case to the right-wing spectrum. The incidents highlight the need for increased protection for politically engaged individuals and a review of stricter laws. In response to the escalating violence, the interior ministers of the federal states have called for better protection for those involved in politics and a reevaluation of the legal framework.
The assaults on the AfD politicians in Stuttgart are part of a larger trend of escalating political violence in Germany. The incident underscores the growing polarization and hostility in political discourse, with extremist groups targeting politicians and public figures. Political parties and authorities are facing challenges in maintaining a safe and respectful environment for political debate and engagement. The attack has raised concerns about the increasing radicalization and aggression in German society, highlighting the need for proactive measures to address and prevent such acts of violence.
