Dresden, Germany – The top candidate for the Social Democrats (SPD) in the state of Saxony, Matthias Ecke, was severely injured in an attack while campaigning for the upcoming European parliamentary elections, the party confirmed on Saturday. The 41-year-old politician was assaulted by a group of men while putting up campaign posters in a Dresden neighborhood, resulting in serious injuries that will require surgery.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack, emphasizing that such incidents pose a threat to democracy and should not be brushed aside. The head of the SPD in Saxony, Henning Homan, shared that the assailants insulted Ecke’s team with homophobic slurs before physically assaulting them. Ecke suffered broken bones and is expected to remain hospitalized for the next week.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers, described as far-right extremists, were between the ages of 17 and 20 and dressed in dark clothing. The incident is now under investigation by Saxony’s State Criminal Office (LKA). The attack on Ecke occurred shortly after another man was assaulted while hanging up posters for the Green Party in the same area, leading authorities to suspect that the same attackers were involved in both incidents.
In response to the escalating violence against politicians, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the attacks as “shocking” and called for a thorough investigation to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable. The SPD, along with other political figures, denounced the far-right violence, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic values in the face of such threats.
The incidents in Dresden are part of a disturbing trend of verbal and physical attacks on politicians across Germany, with a recent shift in targeting from the AfD to the Greens. To address the rising tensions, parties like the Greens in Saxony have taken measures to ensure the safety of their members by organizing group activities when hanging up posters. The government is urging for a return to constructive and peaceful election campaigns, free from violence and intimidation.