Matthias Ecke (born 12 April 1983) is a German politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party since 2022.[1][2]

Matthias Ecke
Member of the European Parliament
for Germany
Assumed office
3 October 2022
Preceded byConstanze Krehl
Personal details
Born12 April 1983 (1983-04-12) (age 41)
Meerane, East Germany
(now Germany)
Political partySocial Democratic Party of Germany

Early career edit

Before entering the European Parliament, Ecke worked as advisor to Martin Dulig at Saxony's State Ministry for Economic Affairs.[2]

Political career edit

In parliament, Ecke has been serving on the Committee on Regional Development.[3] In addition to his committee assignments, he is part of the parliament's delegation for relations with Belarus.[3]

Assault in 2024 edit

In 2024, Ecke was assaulted by a group of four young males while putting up campaign posters in Dresden-Striesen ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election in Germany and had to undergo an emergency surgery.[4] The same group attacked two teams of Green Party election workers in the same night, leaving a 28-year-old injured.[5]

A 17-year-old from the group of perpetrators, who a witness identified as belonging to the far-right, turned himself in to the police one day after the attack.[6] By 5 May, the Saxony police had also identified the three other perpetrators.[7]

German chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said that the attack on Ecke was "depressing" and that democracy was threatened by such acts.[2] Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) warned "extremists and populists are stirring up a climate of increasing violence". Social Democrats blamed supporters of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) for the attack.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Home | Matthias ECKE | Abgeordnete | Europäisches Parlament". www.europarl.europa.eu (in German). 12 April 1983. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  2. ^ a b c "Scholz fordert geschlossenes Vorgehen gegen rechts" [Scholz demands united action against the right]. Der Spiegel (in German). 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  3. ^ a b Matthias Ecke European Parliament.
  4. ^ "Campaign violence: SPD candidate Matthias Ecke severely injured in brutal assault in Dresden". today.rtl.lu. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  5. ^ a b "European election: German Chancellor Scholz condemns attack on Matthias Ecke". 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  6. ^ "Europaabgeordnetem das Jochbein gebrochen: 17-Jähriger stellt sich nach Angriff auf SPD-Politiker Matthias Ecke in Dresden" [European parliamentarian had his cheekbone fractured: after attack on SPD politician Matthias Ecke, 17-year-old turns himself in]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 2024-05-05. ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  7. ^ "Alle vier Verdächtigen identifiziert" [All four suspects identified]. Tagesschau (in German). 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2024-05-10.

See also edit