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FDP politician Kuhle
Photo: Christian Spicker / imago images
According to statistics published by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) on Tuesday, 55,048 crimes with a political background were counted in Germany in the course of 2021.
That was a good 23 percent more than in the previous year.
Never before have so many cases been listed in the statistics published since 2001.
Most of these crimes were perpetrated by people from the right-wing spectrum.
However, a similar number of cases are »not attributable« – an increase of 147 percent.
This is therefore related to the corona pandemic and the past super election year.
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Kuhle, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has just had to announce a new high in politically motivated violence. The high number of crimes that cannot be clearly assigned to one direction is particularly striking.
What's behind it?
Kuhle:
In addition to left-wing extremist, right-wing extremist or Islamist violence, a new area of phenomena is emerging.
The protection of the constitution describes this as delegitimization of the state.
Everything comes together, from corona deniers to Putin fans.
And we can assume that in the next major crisis after Corona and Ukraine, certain people will again vent their frustration and hatred to liberal democracy and its institutions.
SPIEGEL:
Do you see this as a new development?
Kuhle:
Yes, that is an absolutely threatening phenomenon for our democracy.
That must be of great concern to us.
SPIEGEL:
Are yesterday's corona deniers today's Putin fans?
Kuhle:
The groups that just a few months ago lined up in front of the ZDF building in Berlin and shouted "Lügenpresse!" are now at events organized by Olaf Scholz or Christian Lindner and shouting "War mongers!".
So there seems to be some overlap.
Something is brewing in society.
SPIEGEL:
Crimes related to elections have doubled since the last great election year, 2017, and are also attributed to this diffuse field.
How dangerous is that for you as a politician?
Kuhle:
The people are supposedly demonstrating for freedom of expression, but they want to shout so loud that nobody is allowed to speak their mind.
This is paradoxical.
The inhibition threshold to insult or humiliate people has decreased.
But we should distinguish between full-time and honorary politicians.
MIRROR:
What do you mean by that?
Kuhle:
It's primarily the politicians at the municipal level who are on fire.
You will now find fewer and fewer people who still want to do these jobs.
They don't want to be constantly mobbed or even threatened.
If a full-time politician is endangered, then he is protected and the apartment is secured.
Bodyguards are present when Olaf Scholz performs.
If anything happens, the chancellor will be put in the car and driven away.
That's not how it works with a city council member, that's the difference.
The overall attractiveness of political engagement suffers from this form of political violence.
And with it democracy.
