The case is shocking and shows the explosive nature of the EU election campaign: At an election campaign event in the Cologne district of Chorweiler, SPD members were harassed and insulted.
Unconstitutional gestures such as the Hitler salute were also made. The event took place on Saturday (May 25, 2024).
The Cologne SPD reacted to the incident on Instagram with dismay. The situation escalated to such an extent that the police had to intervene – a report was filed.
“This attack shows alarmingly that the inhibition threshold for attacks, insults and right-wing extremist actions in our society continues to fall. We must not allow hatred and incitement to endanger our peaceful coexistence,” said Claudia Walther, European candidate and co-chair of the Cologne SPD.
Most recently, Nazi chanting on Sylt made headlines. The song “L’amour toujours” by Italian DJ Gigi D’Agostino is not allowed to be played in the European Championship fan zones in Cologne.
“Chorweiler is proud to be home to people from 124 nations. Here, people live together peacefully and set a strong example for tolerance, diversity and community. The attack is a direct attack on these values and on peaceful coexistence in our district,” stressed Helga Wagner, chairwoman of the SPD city district of Chorweiler.
Chorweiler, of all places, is a stronghold of AfD supporters. In the last European elections in 2019, the party achieved a value of more than ten percent in the Chorweiler constituency. The AfD was similarly strong in Porz.
Von Matthias Trzeciak (mt)
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The original of this article “Election campaign scandal in Cologne: SPD members attacked, then Hitler salute” comes from Express.de.