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Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on society to resist the increasing attacks on local politicians.

"The hatred breaks out daily, personally or digitally," Steinmeier said on Thursday in Berlin.

The attacks were "justified for pages or terrifyingly short with words like: 'Verrecke!'", Complained Steinmeier.

According to a survey, more than half of the mayors in Germany have already been insulted, threatened or assaulted.

The municipal level is "particularly exposed due to its closeness to the citizens," said the Federal President.

"Unfortunately, resistance is sorely needed." Steinmeier commented on the activation of the Internet portal "Strong in office", to which threatened local politicians can turn.

The registered attacks on officials and elected officials have doubled in the past three years, stressed the Federal President.

"From lateral thinkers to angry residents who want to prevent a building project, everything runs up in town halls - from the right, from the left, from the center."

Attacks against local politicians threaten democracy

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The phenomenon is a threat to democracy, warned Steinmeier.

"If mayors or council members are afraid of certain issues, then debates and decision-making processes get into trouble," he said.

"And if qualified candidates in the municipalities do not stand for election because they themselves or their families are threatened, then there are gaps."

The whole of society is asked to defend itself against this development.

The “Strong in Office” platform was funded by the German Association of Cities and the Körber Foundation.

She offers advice and support for those affected.

According to a survey presented on Thursday by the polling institute Forsa, 57 percent of mayors are affected by hatred and violence.

Out of concern for their own safety or that of the family, 19 percent of those surveyed had already considered withdrawing from politics.

68 percent of mayors change their behavior out of fear of hatred and violence

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According to the survey, 68 percent of mayors changed their own behavior out of fear of hatred and violence.

More than a third now largely forego the use of social media.

Almost a third are therefore less likely to comment on certain political issues than before.

In larger municipalities, 57 percent of the mayors have already reported charges because of their experiences of hatred and violence.

18 percent said that they had not reported the incidents and that they did not want to do so in the future either.

According to the survey, around 39 percent of the insults and threats take place in personal messages such as e-mails, letters or faxes.

Attacks in face-to-face encounters or on social media accounted for 35 percent each.

A quarter of all those affected also reported hostility and threats to people close to them from their private or family environment.

For the survey, Forsa interviewed 1641 mayors on behalf of the Körber Foundation.

The occasion was the introduction of the Internet portal for local politicians affected by hatred and violence.