Fäeser reveals nearly 3,700 criminal incidents against politicians.
Attempts at intimidation, threats, and violence towards individuals with political affiliations are becoming more frequent in Germany. The past year has seen a significant rise in incidents such as these, with MEP Matthias Ecke being a recent victim, beaten to the hospital in Dresden at the start of May. To put a stop to this escalating situation, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser plans to outline strategies for combatting it.
Federal Minister Faeser expressed alarm over the increasing attacks on politicians, highlighting the concerning trend of disrespect for politics and aggression in Germany. In 2022 alone, there were 1994 offenses recorded, with 67 of these being violent crimes. "Those targeted face threats, their offices are attacked, their homes are besieged, their private property is either damaged or destroyed," she said in a guest column for Welt am Sonntag.
Last year, a total of 3691 crimes were directed at public officials and party representatives. Faeser argued that Germany was experiencing a dangerous escalation, crying out for action. The Minister is due to present the 2023 statistics for politically motivated crime on Tuesday.
There has been a series of incidents recently, with Ecke's brutal attack being the most concerning. "This was the unfortunate climax of the numerous threats and violent acts in recent weeks," she noted. "We must make it clear that the constitutional state will not tolerate this violence, not against Green parties, not against AfD politicians, not against any other party."
Identifying and Prosecuting the Offenders
The violence isn't just aimed at politicians, as volunteers, police officers, and rescue emergency personnel also fall victim to such aggression. "These attackers see themselves as warriors against a 'system' that they despise...But they are nothing more than perpetrators of violence. They are despicable criminals." And in order to keep them in check, they must be prosecuted swiftly and robustly.
This all boils down to resources. "We've increased the federal police by 1000 officers each year," Faeser explained. "Some federal states have also ramped up their force - we need more of this effort in both the police and the legal system." The Minister made very clear that her goal isn't to protect certain groups more than others, "An assault is an assault, applying to everyone."
However, ensuring the safety and security of local politicians must be a priority. "Stricter penalties will make sense in such cases. We are also amending the reporting laws to protect the private addresses of local politicians." Ultimately, the most critical step is to prioritize and enhance prosecution efforts. "If those being targeted have the impression that criminal complaints are futile and will go unpursued, that's devastating."
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Despite the rise in violence against politicians, including the recent assault on MEP Matthias Ecke, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is determined to combat this trend. She emphasized that politically motivated violence will not be tolerated, regardless of the political affiliation of the target, and called for stricter penalties and improved reporting laws to protect local politicians.
Source: www.ntv.de
