After the assassination attempt on Fico – anger and violence: our politicians are so threatened

Politicians are increasingly the targets of insults, insults and, more recently, physical attacks. After the assassination attempt on Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, the shock in our neighboring country is deep. His health condition is described as serious. The coming days will be crucial, the hospital says.

A few days ago there was also a moment of shock in the center of Vienna. An activist carried out a paint attack with fake blood on Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP). She narrowly escaped the paint bucket before the man could be caught.

There have also been several attacks on representatives of the people in Germany in recent weeks. The SPD politician Matthias Ecke was beaten until he was hospitalized. Attacked by a group of young men. He suffered broken bones in his face and had to undergo surgery. How does the MEP feel today after the brutal attack? “I am on the road to recovery. It was a serious attack. “I will soon participate in the election campaign again,” Ecke told “Krone”.

Former mayor of Berlin Franziska Giffey (SPD) was also recently physically attacked. In 2023 alone, there were 2,790 physical attacks on politicians in Germany, most of which were against AfD politicians.

But here too, politicians are leading increasingly dangerous lives. Death threats against representatives of the people are becoming increasingly common. There are no official figures for this. The bombing of Viennese mayor Helmut Zilk in the 1990s will never be forgotten. He narrowly escaped death at the time. The media reports surrounding the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Fico brought back painful memories for former mayor Johann Straner from Fohnsdorf (Styria). He was the victim of a gunshot attack in 2003 and miraculously survived: his wristwatch had significantly slowed the perpetrator’s bullet.

Heated mood after the corona pandemic
But where does the increasing willingness to use violence come from? In response to a ‘Krone’ request, the Ministry of the Interior said that at the latest since the pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in threats against certain politically and publicly prominent people. Other external factors such as the climate crisis or geopolitical upheavals and wars (Russia, Gaza) contribute to an increase in threats.

In Austria, the Federal President, the Chancellor and the Minister of the Interior in principle enjoy permanent personal protection. However, depending on the situation, this can also be extended to other people. The fact is: the spiral of hatred and violence continues to spin dangerously fast.