Spate of Attacks on German Politicians :German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vehemently denounced a spate of assaults on politicians following the recent attack on Franziska Giffey, a Senator and former Mayor of Berlin, who sustained a blow to the head in a public library.This incident marks the third assault on an elected official within a week in Germany. Giffey, a member of Scholz’s Social Democratic party (SPD), sustained minor injuries and a 74-year-old male suspect apprehended by the police briefly hospitalized her.
Scholz condemned the attacks as “outrageous and cowardly,” emphasizing that violence has no place in democratic discourse. He asserted that the majority of decent and reasonable individuals oppose such acts. The German government also condemned the escalating number of attacks, stating that a “climate of intimidation” cannot be tolerated. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the imperative to safeguard all those who defend democratic principles, regardless of their political affiliation.
The attack on Giffey occurred amidst calls for enhanced police protection of politicians during an emergency meeting of state ministers. Verbal and physical assaults against politicians have surged this year, coinciding with upcoming European and local elections. The police believed that Giffey’s suspected attacker, known for hate crimes and incidents against state security, had mental health issues.
Giffey voiced concern over a culture that justifies attacks on politicians, emphasizing the importance of respecting boundaries and rejecting violence.
However, she emphasized the need for elected officials to engage with the public freely. Berlin’s Mayor, Kai Wegner, condemned the attacks as assaults on democracy and pledged to explore stricter penalties for such offenses.
On the same day, police arrested two individuals in Dresden for assaulting a 47-year-old Green party member in a separate incident. The perpetrators, who had previously made Nazi salutes, targeted the victim while he was putting up campaign posters. This attack underscores the alarming trend of political violence and extremism.
Last week, four individuals attacked Matthias Ecke, an MEP from the SPD, while he was putting up EU election posters in Dresden, leading to his surgery. Authorities are investigating the suspects, aged between 17 and 18, for their ties to a far-right group called “Elblandrevolte.” These incidents reflect a concerning rise in political violence, with mainstream politicians attributing it to the resurgence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
In response to the escalating violence, the government has pledged to review legislation pertaining to political attacks.
However, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel criticized attempts to politicize such attacks, emphasizing that AfD members frequently face targeting as well.
As Germany grapples with these challenges, it underscores the pressing need to protect democratic values and ensure the safety of those who participate in the political process.