The beating of MEP Ecke may have ramifications in the German far right

Brussels – Disturbing developments are beginning to emerge on the assault on Friday (May 3) of the outgoing MEP and leading SPD candidate Matthias Ecke in Dresden, in the German state of Saxony; developments that were feared and suspected in recent days, casting shadows on the intimidation strategy of far-right groups in Germany during the campaign ahead of the European elections in June. Die Zeit reported that police believe that at least one of the four people responsible for beating Ecke has far-right motives. It is still unclear whether an organized group coordinated the attack.

The 41-year-old politician was assaulted and kicked by four 17- to 18-year-old boys while he was putting up election posters in Dresden. According to police reports, the boys shortly before beat up on the same street a Green Party volunteer who was also putting up posters for his party. Investigators allegedly found evidence of right-wing extremism on the smartphone and in the apartment of one of the four boys who turned himself in to police over the weekend after being identified. The homes of the other three boys were also searched, and the seized evidence is being analyzed.

“The violent behavior and intimidation of democrats is a tool of the fascists. We must call a spade a spade,” the SPD denounced in a statement, recalling how – with the election campaign having barely begun a week ago – “we are already observing and experiencing a level of attacks that is not even remotely acceptable under any circumstance.” The reference is to the figure provided by the Saxony Interior Ministry, according to which, in the first week of the June European election campaign, 51 politically motivated crimes were reported to the police, while since the beginning of the year, a total of 112 crimes –of which 30 were against officials or elected officials — have been reported in connection with local and European elections in the federal state of Germany. “This is an attack on the foundations of our democracy. An unequivocal warning sign for all citizens of this country,” the German Social Democratic Party warned.

After the beating, Ecke was seriously injured and had to undergo surgery, but the SPD confirmed his decision to continue campaigning. “I am overwhelmed by your closeness and solidarity. It really does me good and gives me strength,” the MEP wrote in a post on X, in which he showed his swollen face and black eye: “However, this is not just about me, but about all those who engage politically with passion. In a democracy, no one should be afraid to speak their mind.” All German parties expressed concern over the incident – including the radical right-wing Alternative für Deutschland, a booth of which was attacked in Dresden at the weekend – and denounced the “climate of fear” instilled by the far right in the country.