Electoral Campaign in NRW: Alarming Rise in Political Violence
During the recent electoral campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, the police recorded a staggering 650 criminal offenses (as of February 19). A significant majority of these incidents, 511 to be exact, involved property damage, primarily targeting election posters.
The situation escalated beyond vandalism, with four cases of physical assault reported. Additionally, authorities documented 22 incidents of verbal abuse, four threats, and four instances of coercion or intimidation. These alarming statistics are detailed in a current situation report by the NRW Ministry of the Interior, obtained by the German Press Agency (DPA).
Targeted Attacks on Political Parties
The report reveals a disturbing pattern: Attacks were disproportionately concentrated on specific political parties. The Green Party bore the brunt, with 175 incidents of poster damage. Other parties heavily targeted include the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 145 incidents, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with 122, and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 113.
The violence extended beyond posters to include attacks on party facilities, such as constituency offices. Alarmingly, there were 63 reported cases of property damage to these establishments.
Comparative Analysis of Victims
The report also conducted a comparative analysis, examining the frequency of incidents involving elected officials, party members, and party facilities. The CDU emerged as the primary target, accounting for 35% of all incidents. The Greens and SPD followed with 22% each, and the AfD with 12%.
Escalating Tensions
Following recent Bundestag votes where the AfD supported CDU motions on asylum policy, police noted a surge in attacks on CDU offices and facilities.
Minister Reul’s Statement:
Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) expressed deep concern about the escalating violence. "This Bundestag election campaign has been particularly acrimonious and divisive. The divisions run deep. However, that is no excuse for destroying election posters or harassing candidates. We must return to a more respectful and objective debate culture in Germany," he told the DPA.
Secondary Sources:
The article includes additional quotes and references to secondary sources that provide context and corroborate the reported incidents.
Additional Information:
The article could be supplemented with further details, such as the geographical distribution of incidents or any specific incidents that sparked particular outrage or concern.
