In the city of Dresden, a member of the ruling SPD party, Ake, was attacked by young men aged 17-20 while putting up posters for the European Parliament elections in early June. The attack occurred in a stronghold for the far-right AfD party and had one of the lowest non-German populations in the country. Other teams putting up posters that evening also faced intimidation, destruction of posters, and insults, according to the SPD party in Saxony. Two Green Party campaign staff were also attacked that same evening.
The attacks in Dresden are just one example of a growing trend of incidents targeting politicians across Germany as they campaign leading up to the local and European elections on June 9. The German Chancellor condemned these attacks, stating that democracy is threatened by such violence and that renouncing it is not an option. This public outcry comes amid increasing reports of attacks on politicians across Germany, including members of the Green Party who were targeted in other cities like Essen, Chemnitz, and Zwickau.
Despite these attacks, politicians and political parties continue their election campaigns in various cities across Germany. There is a growing concern about the safety of politicians and campaign staff as they work to engage with voters and promote their platforms. As the country prepares for upcoming elections, security measures are being heightened to ensure the safety of all participants in the democratic process.