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Political violence in Brandenburg: worrying increase!
Attacks on politicians in Oberhavel are increasing. SPD MP calls for more protection against political violence and crime.
Political violence in Brandenburg: worrying increase!
The political landscape in Germany is increasingly becoming the focus of violence and intimidation. Last weekend there was an attack on demonstrators in Bad Freienwalde by masked people. This event is part of an alarming development that particularly affects politicians and political parties. How maz online reported, the number of politically motivated crimes increased significantly from January to March 2024, worrying authorities. The SPD member of the state parliament Andreas Noack submitted a small question to the state government in Potsdam after the number of crimes rose from 100 to 186 in the same period - an increase of more than 130 percent.
Elected officials and party representatives are particularly under pressure, with a total of 176 recorded incidents. Noack describes the situation as a serious threat to the common good. In addition, the willingness to use violence takes on a new dimension during election campaigns. Reports show that not only politicians, but also volunteers are increasingly becoming the target of attacks. Andrea Johlige, the local chairwoman of the Left Party, emphasizes that more and more people are prepared to resolve conflicts violently and that personal attacks are increasing.
A worrying trend
The increase in violence is not an isolated incident. bpb.de informs that a worrying spiral of violence against election campaigners was already observed in the run-up to the European and state elections in 2024, which is continuing in the current federal election campaign. Attacks appear to be increasing throughout, as are attacks on campaign booths and threats to candidates.
The timeline of the incidents shows: On December 14, 2024, there were attacks on SPD members in Berlin, while party members' stands were repeatedly attacked during the course of the election campaign. Experts perceive this development as a brutalization of political discourse, while parties signed a fairness agreement to improve election campaign design.
Politically motivated crimes are increasing
A look at the statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office provides information about developments: In recent years, the number of politically motivated crimes in Germany has increased. Around 5,400 cases were registered in 2023, which means an increase of 29 percent compared to previous years. Politically motivated acts of violence, which totaled 3,561 cases, show a decline, while hate crimes show a worrying increase of 50 percent, as BKA.de determines.
A particularly alarming point is the rise in anti-Semitic crimes, which have reached over 5,000 cases, an increase of more than 95 percent. These developments underline the need for decisive action by authorities and politicians to ensure the safety of citizens in political contexts.
In this climate of uncertainty, it is essential that measures are taken to protect both civil society and political actors. Andreas Noack is calling for the police to be better equipped to combat politically motivated crime. The events of the last few weeks show that a rethink is necessary - not only with regard to protecting politicians, but also to promote respectful and non-violent political discourse.