Local politicians — insulted, threatened, and attacked | DW News
Summary
TLDRThe transcript describes a series of attacks on local politicians in Germany, highlighting the increasing threats they face. M Miller, a Social Democrat politician, narrowly escaped an incendiary attack on his home, which he believes is linked to his call for a demonstration against right-wing extremism. The script also mentions other incidents, including physical attacks and assassinations of local officials. It emphasizes the fear and potential withdrawal from public service this creates, threatening democracy at the local level. The need for a nationwide contact point for threatened politicians is discussed, as well as the importance of addressing the root causes of such violence, including the aggressive political discourse.
Takeaways
- 🔥 An incendiary device was used against the home of M Miller, a local Social Democrat politician, escalating from his car to his front door.
- 👨👩👧👦 M Miller was not home during the attack, but guests with two children were present, indicating potential harm to innocents.
- 🚨 The incident is being treated as an attempted murder, highlighting the severity of the threat.
- 🔍 A special commission is investigating the attack, which occurred shortly after M Miller called for a demonstration against rightwing extremism.
- 🤔 M Miller suspects a connection between the attack and other incidents of vandalism against SPD politicians' offices.
- 🏛️ Local politicians in Germany face significant threats, with many experiencing insults, threats, or physical attacks.
- 🏆 Mayors in Germany have considered retiring due to safety concerns, which could lead to fewer people participating in local government.
- 🗣️ The political atmosphere in Germany has become increasingly hostile, with local politicians feeling the need to withdraw from politics.
- 📣 There is a call for more involvement in local politics without fear, as well as a need for a nationwide contact point for threatened local politicians.
- 📝 Many local politicians do not file complaints due to past experiences of no meaningful response or action.
- 🌐 The establishment of a contact point aims to provide support and guidance for those affected by threats.
Q & A
What happened at the home of M Miller, the local Social Democrat politician?
-Incendiary devices were used to target M Miller's home, first at his car and then at his front door. The entrance of the house was set on fire, and a tire was placed under the fuel tank of the car.
Was anyone at home during the attack on M Miller's residence?
-M Miller was not at home during the attack, but he had guests, a family with two children, and an expert who was there to inspect the entrance.
What category does the attack on M Miller's home fall under?
-The attack is considered an attempted murder, as someone was supposed to be killed.
What event did M Miller call for a few days before the attack?
-M Miller called for a demonstration against right-wing extremism in his hometown of Vas Hous in Turingia.
What other incidents involving politicians occurred on the same night as the attack on M Miller's office windows?
-On the same night, the office windows of three SPD politicians in Thia were smashed.
What concerns do local politicians like M Miller have regarding their safety?
-Local politicians are concerned about the increasing threats, insults, and physical attacks, which may lead to fewer people willing to serve in local government due to fear.
What happened to the Mayor of Cologne in 2015?
-The Mayor of Cologne narrowly escaped death when a right-wing extremist stepped on her neck one day before the election.
What was the worst incident involving a German politician in 2019?
-In 2019, the worst incident was the murder of the District President V Lupka by a right-wing extremist.
What percentage of Germany's Mayors have considered retiring due to safety concerns?
-19% of Mayors have considered retiring from politics out of concern for their own safety or that of their families.
What initiative is being taken to support threatened local politicians in Germany?
-A nationwide contact point for threatened local politicians is being prepared, starting in the summer of 2024, to provide support and guidance.
Why is it important for local politicians to file complaints about threats they receive?
-Filing complaints is important to get a more accurate picture of the threat situation and to ensure a meaningful response or action is taken.
How does the aggressive political atmosphere affect local democracy, according to the mayor of Tosen?
-If local politicians reach a point where they cancel events or feel like they're being followed by a mob, they can no longer freely communicate their opinions in public, which means democracy doesn't work anymore.
Outlines
🔥 Political Violence and Its Impact
The script describes an incident of attempted murder involving incendiary devices targeting the home of M Miller, a local Social Democrat politician. The attack was not a random event, as Miller had recently called for a demonstration against rightwing extremism. The script also highlights the broader issue of violence against politicians in Germany, with many experiencing threats, insults, or physical attacks. The consequences of such violence on democracy and the reluctance of local politicians to report these incidents due to lack of response are discussed. The narrative emphasizes the need for solidarity and a more responsible political discourse to prevent further escalation.
📢 Support and Reporting for Threatened Politicians
This paragraph discusses the challenges faced by local politicians who are threatened, including the confusion over where to report such incidents. It emphasizes the importance of filing complaints to get an accurate picture of the threat situation and the stress it puts on democracy. The script also touches on the role of politicians in contributing to a hostile atmosphere and the need for a more considerate approach to public discourse. M Miller's decision to be more mindful of his tone and the call for solidarity among politicians are highlighted, as well as the upcoming nationwide contact point for threatened local politicians.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Incendiary devices
💡Social Democrat politician
💡Attempted murder
💡Rightwing extremism
💡Public service
💡Local government
💡Threatened local politicians
💡Democracy
💡Solidarity
💡Political atmosphere
Highlights
Incendiary devices were used to target the home of M Miller, a local Social Democrat politician.
The attack involved a car and the front door of M Miller's home.
M Miller was not at home during the attack, but there were guests and children present.
The incident is being investigated as an attempted murder.
M Miller had recently called for a demonstration against right-wing extremism.
On the same night, office windows of three SPD politicians were smashed.
M Miller and other local politicians face threats and attacks, affecting their willingness to serve.
Mayors in Germany have experienced insults, threats, or physical attacks, with some considering retirement due to safety concerns.
The mayor of Cologne narrowly escaped death in 2015, and other politicians have faced similar threats.
A survey reveals that over half of Germany's Mayors have been insulted or threatened, and 19% have thought about retiring for safety reasons.
Local politicians face challenges in maintaining democracy when they cannot freely communicate or hold events.
The mayor of Tosen faced extreme atmosphere and hatred during her election campaign, including concerns about her husband's Turkish origin.
The mayor of Tosen has been warning of the consequences for years and has initiated initiatives for support.
A nationwide contact point for threatened local politicians is being prepared for summer 2024.
Many threatened politicians do not file complaints due to past experiences of no meaningful response.
The contact point aims to provide support and guidance for threatened local politicians.
Local politicians are crucial for implementing federal and state decisions and shaping the political atmosphere.
M Miller plans to be more mindful of his tone in politics to set a positive example.
Transcripts
incendiary devices targeting the home of
a politician first at his car then at
his front door for M Miller a local
Social Democrat politician everything
has changed since then suddenly every
sound every movement can also mean
Danger on the day of the attack Mah was
not at home but had guests a family with
two
children an expert was here to take
another look at
it entrance of the house was set on
fire also a tire under the fuel tank of
the car and there was a light on in the
house someone was supposed to be killed
and that in practice puts it into the
category of attempted
murder now a special commission is
investigating just a few days earlier M
Miller had called for a demonstration
against rightwing extremism in his
hometown of vas hous in turingia he
doesn't believe in
coincidences first of all it was very
suspicious or was it a very strange
coincidence that same night the office
Windows of three SPD politicians here in
Thia were also smashed and all in one
night that would have been quite a
coincidence M Miller doesn't want to be
afraid but it's hard local politicians
like him are well known in the area in
Vitas Howen a lot of people know where
he lives and which car he drives the
question quickly arises is public
service worth of
fear is it worth sacrificing my free
time for this society which threatens me
in
return that could mean there will be
fewer and fewer people who give up their
time and service in local government on
City and Municipal councils as honorary
Mayors or something like
that what do politicians experience in
Germany are they still safe henria Rica
the mayor of cologne narrowly escaped
death in 2015 one day before the
election a right-wing extremist stepped
her in the
neck Andreas hin mayor of the city of
ala was also stepped in the neck by an
anti-refugee as salent in
2017 in 2020 shots were fired at the
constituency office of SPD member of the
bundestag kamba diabi
2019 saw the worst incident the casa
District president V lupka was murdered
by a right-wing
extremist according to a survey more
than half of Germany's Mayors have been
insulted threatened or physically
attacked 19% of Mayors have considered
retiring from politics out of concern
for their own safety or that of their
families we K shatz is the mayor of the
Eastern German city of tosen even during
the election campaign she experienced a
lot of
[Music]
hatred well during my election campaign
we had a very extreme atmosphere in the
city of Ts for example we had faced the
question of whether the new mayor would
islamize the city of tsen because my
husband is of Turkish origin what is
still very difficult I can also see is
the political atmosphere which is
slanderous threats insults physical
attacks the almost 12,000 Mayors in
Germany usually face the frustration
with government from citizens
first if you're at the point where you
cancel events if you're at the point
where you feel like you're being
followed by a mob that you can no longer
freely communicate your own opinion in
public then democracy doesn't work
anymore and that's where we are right
now in my
opinion many local politicians are
therefore thinking about withdrawing
from politics bip shahin Schatz has been
warning of the consequences for years
she talked about it with the German
president and initiated the strong and
office initiative with
others and that's a really big challenge
because we're noticing that even now
especially when it comes to local
elections right-wing parties right-wing
oriented people are being put forward
and you see very little efforts from the
rest of society in getting involved in
doing local politics
and if there's simply no one solid on
the ballot who should the voters vote
for the mayor of tosson wants more
people to get involved in politics again
and not have to be
afraid in the meantime many politicians
have been alarmed starting in the summer
of 2024 there will be a Nationwide
contact point for threatened local
politicians Marcus Kuba is helping to
prepare
why is there a need for a contact point
for threatened local
politicians from conversations in the
past we have heard that those affected
often do not know whether to take it to
the local police or if perhaps it's
something for a special contact point in
the country is it the public
prosecutor's office or is it a civil
society service we would like to support
and give
guidance
why do many of those threatened not file
complaints I hear again and again that
many local politicians don't do this
because they may have done it in the
past and then nothing happened or they
didn't get any feedback that there would
be a meaningful response or action
taken nevertheless it would be very very
important in order to get a more
accurate picture of the threat situation
or the stress situation at some
point
how is it a danger to democracy when
local politicians are
threatened decisions at the federal and
state level must be explained to the
people in
municipalities they must be implemented
compromises must be sought locally in
the municipalities in order to implement
them at the same time however local
officials and elected officials also
pick up on the mood and therefore shape
the decision-making processes in the
political parties and thus in the whole
m m has found the right points of
contact with the police and interia but
even more important to him is the
solidarity from those around him however
he does not consider politics to be
blameless in raising the temperature of
the
atmosphere if you listen to speeches in
the bundestag how aggressive it can get
I can't even watch it in one go it can
be so
aggressive so others watching think I
can deal with my neighbor the same way
just like
I think politicians should be much more
aware of the role model
effect M Miller has decided to pay much
more attention to his tone in the future
and he hopes that others will do the
same
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