Summary of the day
Franziska Giffey, a Berlin senator and former city mayor, was injured when a man struck her from behind with a heavy object in a local library.
A 74-year-old was detained. The suspect was previously known to law enforcement for hate crime and unspecified incidents against state security, and was also believed to have mental health issues.
The incident came at a time of growing concern in Germany about physical and verbal attacks targeting people in public life.
A Green politician was also harassed and spat at in the eastern German city of Dresden on Tuesday.
Four German teenagers are being investigated over a violent attack last week on Matthias Ecke, a member of the European parliament for the Social Democrats, that left him hospitalised with serious injuries.
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said today that “violence does not belong in a democratic debate. Decent and reasonable people are clearly standing against it – and they are the majority!”
Ursula von der Leyen, the centre-right European People’s party’s lead candidate in the European elections, has spoken out about politicians’ safety.
A row broke out among political parties in Europe after the EPP refused to sign a letter condemning the far right and a spate of attacks on politicians in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Ireland.
The open letter calls on von der Leyen to “reject any normalisation, cooperation or alliance with the far right and radical parties”.
The EPP leader in the European parliament, the MEP Manfred Weber, said: “Our principles are clear: we only cooperate with parties that are pro-European, pro-Ukrainian and pro-rule of law.”
German chancellor condemns attacks on politicians
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has spoken out about the attacks targeting Franziska Giffey and other politicians, calling them cowardly.
“Violence does not belong in a democratic debate. Decent and reasonable people are clearly standing against it – and they are the majority!” he said.
Die Angriffe auf Franziska Giffey und andere Politikerinnen und Politiker sind empörend und feige. Wer sich engagiert, verdient Respekt. Gewalt gehört nicht in die demokratische Auseinandersetzung. Die Anständigen und Vernünftigen stehen klar dagegen – und sie sind die Mehrheit!
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) May 8, 2024
