Berlin/Lunow – A disruptive action against Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens) in East Brandenburg has caused outrage across all parties. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) condemned the incident and warned of further attacks on politicians.
“Such attempts at intimidation no longer have anything to do with democratic protest,” wrote Faeser on Thursday on the platform X (formerly Twitter). “We should never forget where political aggression can lead. All democrats must oppose the increasing brutalization.” There were expressions of solidarity with Göring-Eckardt from the Union and SPD in the Bundestag. The Brandenburg Greens were outraged and at the same time see questions about the police operation on site.
After an event on Saturday in Lunow-Stolzenhagen, in which Göring-Eckardt took part, demonstrators harassed the Green politician’s car and prevented her from leaving. The background and motives of the demonstrators initially remained unclear.
The police reported that a 19-year-old and a 26-year-old man sat in front and behind the company car and prevented it from leaving. According to a spokeswoman, the Frankfurt (Oder) public prosecutor’s office is conducting an investigation into coercion against two accused. Both had positioned themselves in front of and behind the vehicle in such a way that it was prevented from leaving for quite some time. Investigations were underway into the more detailed circumstances as well as into the allegation by a suspect that he had been hit by the vehicle.
The police announced that another report was filed for damage to the politician’s vehicle. The State Security Department of the East Police Department is investigating.
Around 40 to 50 demonstrators had gathered in front of the event hall, Göring-Eckardt’s office told the “Bild” newspaper. After the end of the event, the Bundestag Vice President was harassed on the way back to her vehicle. Only when the police called for reinforcements was the departure possible after 45 minutes. The “Märkische Oderzeitung” also reported on the incident.
Greens still have questions
“Violence should never be a means of confrontation,” warned Brandenburg’s Green Party leader Alexandra Pichl. From their point of view, the behavior of the local police raises questions: It must be clarified why the event was only protected by two officers during the most critical phase and whether the security forces were sufficiently prepared, said Pichl. “We demand a comprehensive investigation into this incident and consistent prosecution of the perpetrators. It must be made clear that attacks on politicians will not be tolerated and will have criminal consequences.”
The Bundestag Vice President called for better protection. “The state police must urgently think about how they can secure political events in the countryside and agree on uniform criteria as to which standards they actually apply,” said Göring-Eckardt to the Editorial Network Germany (RND). “This incident was no exception.” She told “Stern”: “The security authorities also need to be more aware of this.”
Not the first incident of this kind
In January, farmers prevented Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck of the Green Party from leaving a ferry after he returned from a private trip to the North Sea coast. The Green Party federal chairwoman Ricarda Lang was booed, insulted and prevented from leaving at the political Ash Wednesday in Schorndorf near Stuttgart.
Solidarity with Göring-Eckardt came from the SPD and the Union. “Unfortunately, it is now part of everyday life for politicians in our country to be harassed, threatened and insulted. On the street and online,” said the first parliamentary managing director of the SPD parliamentary group, Katja Mast, to “Spiegel”. The First Parliamentary Managing Director of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Thorsten Frei, told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday): “Threatening and intimidating the Bundestag Vice President is absolutely unacceptable.”