The brutal attack by a suspected right-wing group of thugs on the Saxon MEP Matthias Ecke is shocking because of its brutality – but not surprising. Threats and physical attacks on politicians and campaign workers are increasing. In Saxony alone, 112 politically motivated crimes related to elections were registered this year. These numbers will continue to rise with a view to the state elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. For 2023, the Federal Criminal Police Office recorded 2,800 attacks on politicians from the democratic parties.
We cannot simply accept this dangerous development. Whether campaign workers, local politicians or members of the Bundestag: when politically active people are threatened and attacked, this is an attack on democracy as a whole. Since the murder of Walter Lübcke, we have known what consequences hatred of politicians can have. Right-wing extremists stir up this hatred and poison political and social discourse. Violence thrives in this atmosphere. Right-wing extremism therefore remains the greatest threat to our liberal democracy.
It is the duty of all democratic parties and movements not only to clearly differentiate themselves from right-wing extremism and its parliamentary arm, but also to combat it politically. We have to counteract the climate of fear and show on the streets every day: We are more. We do not leave public spaces to the enemies of democracy.
As liberals, we stand in solidarity with all democratic politicians who work every day for our open and pluralistic society – especially Matthias Ecke, to whom we wish a speedy recovery.