Faeser calls for more police presence for campaigners

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser is calling for better protection for politicians and helpers during election campaigns. "We need an even more visible police presence on the ground to protect democrats at campaign stands and events," the SPD politician told the Rheinische Post newspaper (Monday) in view of the increasing number of attacks during election campaigns. "In terms of the rule of law, we must now take tougher action against perpetrators of violence and provide more protection for democratic forces," she emphasized. She will discuss this "very quickly" with the interior ministers of the federal states. The chairman of the conference of interior ministers, Brandenburg's head of department Michael Stübgen (CDU), has invited his departmental colleagues to a special conference on Tuesday.

The background to this is the brutal attack on the leading SPD candidate for the European elections in Saxony, Matthias Ecke. The 41-year-old was operated on in hospital on Sunday. The attack caused nationwide horror. There have also been other attacks on politicians and election workers in recent days.

"The extremely brutal act of violence against the Saxon MEP Matthias Ecke shows where political aggression leads. We must oppose this escalation of anti-democratic violence politically and in accordance with the rule of law," said Faeser. "Violence stifles all debate and destroys democratic discourse. We will not back down an inch against those who intimidate and threaten democratically elected politicians," Faeser emphasized.