Election campaign brutalization: Calls for consequences after attacks

"We need an even more visible police presence on the ground to protect democrats at election campaign stands and events," Federal Interior Minister Faeser told the Rheinische Post newspaper (Monday) in light of the attack on Ecke and other politicians and election workers in recent days. "In terms of the rule of law, we must now act with more severity against perpetrators of violence and more protection for democratic forces," she emphasized. She will discuss this "very quickly" with the interior ministers of the federal states. The chairman of the conference of interior ministers, Brandenburg's head of department Michael Stübgen (CDU), has invited his departmental colleagues to a special conference on Tuesday.

Widespread solidarity with those attacked

In Dresden and Berlin on Sunday evening, numerous people demonstrated for democracy and against violence during the election campaign, including many well-known politicians. Around 3,000 people gathered in Saxony's state capital and, according to the "Together Against the Right" alliance, which organized the demonstrations, there were just as many people in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Politicians from almost all major parties also joined forces to speak out against violence in political disputes. By Sunday afternoon, more than 100 members of various parliaments had signed the so-called Striesen Declaration, which opposes "the ever-escalating violence against politically engaged people in public spaces". The attacks in Dresden took place in the middle-class district of Striesen.

Warnings against cutting back on internal security

Against the backdrop of attacks on election campaigners, interior politicians from the SPD and Greens have warned Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) against cutting back on internal security. "Anyone who wants to make savings in the interior ministry in these times is taking an axe to democracy. We must do the opposite and put together a security and democracy package". The Greens' interior expert Marcel Emmerich also warned in "Der Spiegel": "In view of the internal and external pressure on our security and democracy, such cuts in the area of internal security would be foolish and negligent." Konstantin von Notz, deputy leader of the Green Party, reiterated the call for a "special fund for internal security".

Elections also taking place in thousands of municipalities

This year, in addition to the European elections and the state elections in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg, numerous local elections are also taking place. André Berghegger, Chief Executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, pointed out that local politicians in particular are easily accessible for insults, incitement, hatred or even physical attacks and is concerned about the increasing number of attacks on election campaigners. "In 2024, more than 110,000 seats will be up for election in around 6,000 cities and municipalities," he told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND/Monday). The events of the past few days were therefore a cause for great concern.

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