Wissler and Schaper: Attack on democracy

Left Party leader Janine Wissler and Saxon party chairwoman Susanne Schaper have described the attacks on campaigners as an "attack on democracy". Democrats must stand together against the danger from the right-wing fringe, they said in a statement from the Left Party state association on Saturday. "What we are currently observing is also the responsibility of parties such as the AfD, the "Free Saxons" and all those who stir up hatred. Anyone who incites hatred against people and makes them scapegoats for grievances is contributing to a climate in which right-wing perpetrators of violence feel emboldened."

The left-wing politicians said they stood in solidarity with Matthias Ecke and all victims of the current right-wing violence. The Saxon SPD MEP Ecke was attacked by four as yet unknown perpetrators on Friday evening in Dresden while putting up election posters. They beat the 41-year-old and seriously injured him. Shortly before, a 28-year-old Green Party campaign worker had also been attacked and injured by four perpetrators while putting up posters nearby. The police assume that the same perpetrators were involved in both cases.