In the early hours of June 2, 2019, the Christian Democrat politician Walter Liebke, director of administrative services in the city of Kassel, was sitting carelessly on the porch of his house when he received a bullet in the temple and fell dead.
Five years have passed since the cold-blooded murder of Christian Democrat politician Walter Liebke in Germany. Life imprisonment was the sentence for the far-right perpetrator. The news had shocked Germany: In the early hours of June 2, 2019, the Christian Democrat politician Walter Liebke, director of administrative services in the city of Kassel, was sitting unconcerned on the porch of his house, when he received a bullet in the temple and fell dead. The authorities quickly identified the perpetrator, a “marked” far-right extremist, who was sentenced to life in prison in January 2021.
His motivation was to take revenge on Liebke, who not only wanted to raise public awareness of the refugee issue and help new arrivals from Syria and Afghanistan, but also criticized in unusually high tones those nostalgic for the dark past. “We have to defend our fundamental values and anyone who does not represent these values can, if they want, leave the country,” Liebke said in the summer of 2015 in a speech in the town of Löfelden, wanting to convince the residents to accept the operation of refugee shelters in the area.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before”
The case is commented by Lorenz Blumenthaler, partner of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, founded in 1998 with the aim of combating racism and named after Amadeu Antonio, an immigrant from Angola and one of the first victims of racist violence after the Reunification of Germany. Referring to the assassination of Liebke, Blumenthaler points out that “we had never seen anything like this in post-war Germany. And yet, reactions were rather subdued, even within Liebke’s own party. Consider a conservative politician being murdered in cold blood by a right-wing extremist…”
Moreover, at that time Lorenz Blumenthaler had recorded different reactions at home and abroad. As he reports to DW, “the international press followed the developments carefully. In Germany they said that this is another criminal act by an extreme rightist, like many others. But for our international contacts, the conclusion was clear: this is right-wing terrorism aimed at the state itself.”
Five years after the murder, Walter Liebke’s wife and two children are appealing to politicians in Germany not to back down in the face of any attempt at intimidation. “Be steadfast, do not deviate from your principles and beliefs, you are not alone” is stated in a written statement by the family, which, however, at the same time calls on the competent authorities to strengthen protection measures for those at risk.
“Anyone can become a target”
Attacks against politicians in Germany have been increasing in recent years. The target is mainly those active at the local level and they are certainly not as meticulously protected as ministers or parliamentarians. Lorenz Blumenthaler appears particularly worried: “I would go so far as to claim that many now behave without inhibitions and that anyone who expresses vocal support for democratic values can be in danger, can become a mobile target…” he says characteristically.
According to data from the Federal Crime Agency (BKA), in the last five years the number of attacks on politicians and public officials has tripled. For 2023 alone, the authorities are recording 5,400 incidents across Germany.
Edited by: Yiannis Papadimitriou
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
