Violence against local politicians: higher penalties – better protection?

As of: September 27, 2024 7:53 a.m

Hatred, agitation and violence do not stop at local politicians. Many people ask themselves: Why should I do this to myself? The Federal Council is working on a draft law today.

Sandra Biegger

“I still get goosebumps when I talk about it,” says Martin Klußmeier. To prove it, he shows his muscular forearm. When the 54-year-old talks about “about it”, he means the attacks to which he was exposed – for nine years as mayor of Drehenthalerhof. This is a small district of Otterberg near Kaiserslautern, around 400 people live there.

Klußmeier’s family has lived here for generations; the tiled stove maker is very popular; he was elected mayor twice with 93 percent of the vote. For many years, people from the Palatinate needed to get politically involved in their local area, almost like the air they needed to breathe.

That’s why he didn’t let threats stop him for a long time. Not even when, shortly after he took office, masked people hit him with an iron rod at dawn. According to his own statements, Klußmeier filed 21 reports against unknown persons over time, always without results. Whether written death threats or physical attacks – it has never been proven beyond doubt who was behind it.

After a pepper spray attack by a masked person and another threatening letter, Klußmeier pulled the ripcord last year and resigned. Also to protect his wife, his two children and his parents. A step that still hurts Klußmeier. Ultimately, he saw no other way out.

Martin Klußmeier resigned after an attack on him.

“How can someone hate me so much?”

Gerd Klasen has also thought about resigning because of hatred and agitation. Once, the honorary mayor of Polch in Rhineland-Palatinate was warned not to go for a walk alone during the dark season. Another time, pedophile content was uploaded to his hacked social media account, and he and members of his family were reported anonymously.

The accusation: illegal business and enrichment. The local politician is still stunned to this day that someone obviously hates him so much that he himself is committing a crime. Gerd Klasen does not see a connection between the personal attacks on him and concrete political decisions in Polch.

Gerd Klasen was also threatened.

Attacks leave their mark

Verbal, psychological or physical attacks on local politicians are now widespread. This is also shown by a current study in which, in addition to the Federal Criminal Police Office, three municipal umbrella organizations also worked. For the so-called Motra report, public officials from all over Germany are regularly asked to what extent they are confronted with hatred, agitation and violence.

Accordingly, 36 percent of those surveyed experienced hostility and violence in the six months before the most recent survey. 28 percent said they no longer wanted to run in the next local elections. From previous Motra reports it is known that almost all those affected suffer psychological and physical consequences as a result of the attacks.

Higher penalties

Laws have therefore been tightened several times at the state and federal level. At its meeting today, the Federal Council is dealing with a further change to the Criminal Code. The federal government’s draft law stipulates, among other things, that coercion of those active in local politics will be punished in the same way as, for example, coercion of the Federal President or other top politicians – namely with up to ten years in prison.

According to its own statements, the Association of Cities and Municipalities expressly supports such changes in the law. These are urgently needed given the extent and quality of hostility. On the one hand, because of the massive personal consequences for those affected, and on the other hand, because otherwise it would become increasingly unattractive to take on a political office on a full-time or voluntary basis. The Association of Cities and Municipalities warns: This development could have devastating consequences for democracy. He also calls for so-called political stalking to be given more criminal attention. It’s about stalkers who deliberately penetrate the private lives of politically active people in order to create a climate of fear.

Different approaches to solutions

According to the Association of Cities and Municipalities, legal changes alone do not achieve anything. These are only promising if there are sufficient personnel in the police, investigative authorities and courts who are appropriately trained and sensitized.

Criminologist Dirk Baier from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences also says: “Tightening the law alone does nothing.” This can also be seen, for example, in the fact that violence against police officers has been increasing again since 2018, even though it had previously been repeatedly intensified. According to Section 188 of the Criminal Code, attacks and violence against politically active people could already be punished today. Baier emphasizes: “But people don’t just stop being aggressive and violent just because there are laws that criminalize this behavior.”

In his opinion, there are many reasons for the increase in violence: political polarization, inflation, the deterioration of the economic situation, social inequality and poverty. In addition, it is currently more culturally accepted to assert oneself through violence; This was exemplified not least by politicians such as Russian President Putin and US presidential candidate Trump. The criminologist believes a trend reversal is conceivable. You just have to start at different points when solving the problem. For example, it is important to make the general public aware that violence is never appropriate – especially not against people who do voluntary work.

Resignation – (not) an option

The mayor of Polch, Gerd Klasen, also wants to raise awareness of the issue. He is now speaking publicly about the attacks on his person – and the fear, mistrust and anger that they triggered in him. One consequence of his openness: more people are now contacting him with positive feedback. Gerd Klasen also draws strength from this to carry on. Just like the planned changes to the law. For him, they are a sign of appreciation and a signal: “big” politics has the grassroots activists in mind. He definitely wants to continue to be involved in local politics – in consultation with his family. Just recently his son said to him: “Dad, you can’t stop! Otherwise the others will have won!”

In the opinion of the resigned mayor Martin Klußmeier from near Kaiserslautern, however, the planned changes to the law are of no use. He says: “What good is the highest punishment if you don’t identify the perpetrators.” Among other things, he would like to see more advice and support for those active in local politics who are under threat. There is currently no mayor in his home village. What happened to Klußmeier may also have permanently deterred others.

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