SPD leader Saskia Esken
Image: dpa
The SPD leader attacks the CDU leader after the fire in a refugee accommodation. Anyone who slanders war refugees as social tourists must ask themselves what part they have in hate and hate speech.
Nfter the fire in a refugee accommodation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, SPD leader Saskia Esken accused conservative politicians of serving up hatred towards refugees and thus preparing the ground for such acts. Specifically, with a view to CDU leader Friedrich Merz, she told the “Rheinische Post” on Friday: “Anyone who slanders war refugees as social tourists, far from all the facts, must ask themselves what part they have in the hatred and agitation that later leads to violence.”
Merz had apologized for his statement and described it as an “inaccurate description of a problem that can be observed in individual cases”.
Esken said of the suspected arson that it was frightening that not only “the far-right constitutional enemies of the AfD” served hatred against refugees. “Conservative politicians are also increasingly sinking to a populist level. Recent statements about the admission of people seeking protection in Germany are irresponsible – and they not only prepare the ground for social divisions, but ultimately also for such criminal acts.”
In the fire in Groß Strömkendorf near Wismar, the former hotel that served as accommodation was largely destroyed on Wednesday evening. At the time of the fire, there were 14 refugees from Ukraine and three caregivers in the building. Nobody got hurt. Investigators suspect arson as the cause.