Green demands resignation of Maier: Local politicians in danger!

Green demands resignation of Maier: Local politicians in danger!

Gotha, Deutschland - Lately, the situation has become alarming for local politicians in Thuringia. The Greens district association in Gotha has contacted Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) and demands more effective protection for local mandate bearers or in return. As MDR reports in the letter to protect volunteers. More and more people prefer to withdraw from local politics - for fear of attacks and threats that all too often shape the everyday life of these politicians.

The Greens point out a particularly threatening location. A former city council member describes that he was recently insulted and physically attacked in the Gotha city center. The green office in the city was also the target of attacks, with a threat of scratching the windows and hate messages were glued to the windows. In these cases, perpetrators remained unknown, and the Greens criticize that advertisements are often simply stalled and investigated. The reality is that recommendations from the Ministry of the Interior, such as avoiding dark places, are considered unrealistic and ineffective.

a country in turmoil

The incidents are not only limited to Gotha. Violence against local politicians has also increased in other parts of Thuringia. The house of an SPD politician was lit in the Gotha district, while the windows of a party office were taken in Suhl. The Interior Minister Georg Maier suspects political motives behind such crimes that have now assumed an alarming extent. A nationwide survey shows that 38 % of the mayors and district councilors surveyed have received hostility in recent months. The Federal Center for Political Education documented that 74 % of those affected had to suffer verbal or written hostility.

The violence not only have physical, but also psychological consequences. As Tagesschau reports, 82 % of the victims complain of health impairments by these incidents. It is worrying that every tenth person is considering withdrawing from his office. A need for reform is obvious: there are demands for a nationwide response to protect local officials who are intended to advise and improve the cooperation between security authorities, judiciary and administration.

political polarization and social tensions

The situation demands more than just tightened laws. Trained personnel and judiciary are also needed to respond to the feedback from those affected. In the sense of a stable democracy, the support and protection for local mandate holders should be strengthened - because without it a lively civil society is hardly possible.