SPD Federal Chairwoman Saskia Esken warns against trivializing the attack on SPD MEP

Federal SPD leader Saskia Esken has warned against trivializing the attack on SPD MEP Matthias Ecke as the act of an individual. "It is very clear that this propensity for violence does not fall from the sky," said Esken on Sunday at the SPD's national headquarters in Dresden before a solidarity rally. This has to do with the seeds of social division and messages of contempt for democracy that emanate from the AfD and other right-wing extremists. "In this respect, these people who have threatened to hunt us down, to clean up this country, to muck it out, are also partly responsible for the social climate in which such acts are possible."

We will not put up with this, Esken emphasized. "We will oppose this as a constitutional state, but of course also as a society and as political parties."

The act of violence against Ecke was very emotional. "We wish him the very best recovery so that we can soon once again stand up together for democracy and for a state in Europe," said Esken.