SPD politician Ecke expresses being taken aback, yet unfazed.
Matthias Ecke, a politician from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), shared his experiences after being brutally attacked a week ago. Despite being injured, he continues to recover and plans to rejoin the election campaign. In the long run, he needs to process what happened to him. He doesn't intend to be silenced by the attack.
After the assault on SPD politician Matthias Ecke, he has expressed his intention to continue with the election campaign. He told various newspapers that he won't let the attackers' actions stop him. "I was hit, but I'm not afraid," Ecke stated to "Freie Presse" (Chemnitz), "Leipziger Volkszeitung" (Leipzig), and "Sächsische Zeitung" (Dresden) in a joint interview. He hopes to attend some appointments next week if his healing process allows it, and he's not overly concerned about his party.
Ecke shared that his injuries are healing, but he still feels pain. "I don't feel secure right now, but I don't know how I'll handle the experience in the long term," he added. Ecke was attacked while putting up posters in Dresden, and he suffered broken bones in his face.
Almost instantaneous attack
Ecke described the attack as "quick," happening within seconds. He mentioned: "Someone provocatively asked why I was even putting up an SPD poster, then I got punched." He believes that people took advantage of the growing social tension to exact vigilante justice.
Ecke recalls being reminded of the 90s, when neo-Nazis spread fear and reminded him and his party friends of the same sentiments. Even the medical staff in the hospital where he was treated the day of the attack were discussing the same concerns. Initially, the extremist group Alternative for Germany (AfD) created an unfavorable social environment, but other far-right groups like the Free Saxons and the Identitarian movement have also contributed to fueling this disinhibition and brute force, according to Ecke. He's never seen such a level of brutality in election campaigns.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
Ecke's attack occurred in Dresden, the capital city of Saxony. In response to the attack, the SPD has shown solidarity, with party leaders expressing their support and concern. Despite the incident, Ecke remains determined to return to the political scene, vowing not to let crime deter him from his duties.
Source: www.ntv.de
