Interior Minister Calls for Peaceful Final Push in Election Campaign - Hesse's election campaign marred by record vandalism and political violence
Vandalism and attacks on politicians have surged ahead of Hesse's local elections on March 15. Campaign posters are being destroyed in record numbers, with incidents now higher than during the 2025 federal election. Officials warn that rising aggression threatens democratic participation.
In Frankfurt, 50 posters from a single party were recently torn down or defaced. Across Hesse, 994 incidents have been recorded—the worst figure since 2019. Ten of these involved physical violence, while most were verbal abuse, slander, or defamation.
One of the most shocking cases took place in Königstein, where the mayor's face was painted onto tree stumps surrounded by grave candles. Verbal and physical attacks on officials more than doubled in 2025 compared to the previous year. Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) urged respect in the final days of campaigning. He stressed that democracy depends on peaceful debate and warned that assaults on local politicians—many of whom are volunteers—endanger civic engagement.
The local elections will proceed on March 15 amid growing concerns over political violence. Authorities have called for restraint as incidents reach their highest level in years. The focus remains on ensuring a fair and safe voting process.
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