Uncompromising Radicalism - Memorial Service for Slain CDU Politician Recognized
During a memorial gathering at the Kassel Martin Church, about a thousand guests gathered to remember slain CDU politician Walter Lübcke, assassinated by a right-wing extremist five years prior. Among them was Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who honored Lübcke, a former Kassel government leader, by acknowledging his integrity as a Democrat and his unwavering dedication. "We were all hoping that Walter Lübcke would carry on being what he was until June 2nd, 2019: a morally upright Democrat who took responsibility. A politician who strove for change, a curious and thoughtful fellow human being. A hero," Steinmeier said.
The politician's unyielding stance as a Democrat led to his death. Steinmeier characterized the murder as a right-wing extremist terrorist act. "Walter Lübcke was taken from us, among us, on June 2, 2019. The attack targeted him, but essentially, it targeted us as a society. After all, he died because he defended our defining societal values." Thus, this murder wasn't just about him but the impact on all of us. Still, Steinmeier stressed, "This event will never leave us at peace."
At the Service, Steinmeier urged unity in the fight against right-wing extremism, this isn't something that will go away by itself. "Everyday, we witness attempts to distort decency and the shared understanding of society with words. And far too often, these attempts succeed." The dreadful repercussion - physical aggression. In light of this, Steinmeier expressed his concern, "Especially in recent times, we read and hear on a frequent basis about engaged people and office holders being physically assaulted. We must not accept violence in political squabbles."
To counteract this, Steinmeier called for resistance whenever hatred surfaces. "The requirement to oppose hatred stems from the responsibility we all shoulder." He believed that the majority in this country backs democratic values, said the Federal President.
The remembrance event was organized by the Evangelical Parish Kassel-Mitte, the Kassel Government Presidium, and the diversity-promoting initiative "Open for Diversity." Family members of NSU terror cell victims in Kassel were amongst the attendees, as were various politicians, including Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU). Lübcke's killing occurred on June 2nd, 2019, when right-wing extremist Stephan E. shot him point-blank on his terrace in Wolfhagen-Istha. The rationale - the disapproval of Lübcke's pro-asylum policy stance. The perpetrator is now in prison serving a life sentence. This murder marked the first politically inspired killing of a federal German policymaker by a neo-Nazi.
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- Reflecting on the memorial service, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Federal President of Germany, emphasized the importance of unity in fighting against right-wing extremism, a challenge that needs constant vigilance in CDU-led Hesse and throughout Germany.
- History has shown us that democracy, one of the defining societal values, is not immune to threats, as exemplified by the murder of CDU politician Walter Lübcke, a staunch Democrat and advocate for democracy, in Kassel in 2019 by a right-wing extremist.
- The memorial service in Kassel, attended by Steinmeier and hundreds of others, served as a stark reminder of the extremist climate in Germany, where crimes like the assassination of Lübcke continue to cast a dark shadow on the country's democratic journey.
- As the Federal President spoke during the memorial service, he pointed out that the rise of right-wing extremism and its violent manifestations is not a fleeting issue, but a significant challenge that must be addressed by all democratic leaders, including those in right-wing parties like CDU.
- Five long years have passed since the tragic murder of Walter Lübcke, but the echoes of his heroism resonate strongly in memory services and discussions on democracy and extremism in communities like Kassel.
- In the face of rising extremism and the growing incidence of hate crimes, Steinmeier called on the democratically inclined majority in Germany to stand up against hatred and defend the values of democracy, insisting that silence in the face of extremism is not an option.
- During the memorial service, Steinmeier underscored the need for an unwavering commitment to democracy and the importance of taking proactive steps to challenge and counteract the forces of extremism, which have become a significant threat to the very foundations of German society and democracy.
