DGB chairman condemns attacks on election campaigners in Saxony

The Saxon DGB chairman Markus Schlimbach has condemned attacks on election campaigners. The past few days had already been characterized by attacks on election campaigners from various democratic parties in Saxony, according to a statement from the German Trade Union Confederation on Saturday.

"The violent attack on SPD European candidate Matthias Ecke is a sad climax that must alarm all democrats. Clarification is now required," said Schlimbach according to the press release. Democracy thrives on the exchange of opinions, but this should never end in violence. Now it is important to show the strength of democracy and to stand together.

Saxon SPD MEP Ecke was attacked by four unknown persons on Friday evening in Dresden while putting up election posters. The perpetrators hit the 41-year-old and seriously injured him. Shortly before, a 28-year-old Green Party campaign worker had also been attacked and injured by four perpetrators while putting up posters nearby. The police assume that the same perpetrators were involved in both cases.