Political discourse requires sincerity following the Solingen terror incident: Times demand truthfulness in government decisions
In the small town of Solingen, Germany, a 26-year-old asylum seeker, allegedly swearing allegiance to the Islamic State, carried out a horrific attack five days ago, killing three people and severely injuring five others. The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the country, with many feeling angry and disappointed about the behaviour of the perpetrator.
The attack is different from the triple murder in Würzburg, where three women were killed by a knife attacker. However, the similarities in the circumstances have sparked a heated debate, with some accusing the political left of creating the problems they now seek to distract from with debates about peripheral issues.
The state's failure to deport the perpetrator, one of thousands of deportation cases who did not leave, has highlighted a loophole in the justice system. This failure is particularly concerning as the government claims the monopoly on violence but struggles with simple tasks like deportation.
Despite the many offers in Solingen, such as the "Welcome Center" or the "Flight Point", the attacker did not arrive there, but rather is suspected to have become further radicalized. This has led some to question the effectiveness of the current immigration policy and the government's ability to guarantee safety.
Resources are being directed towards investigating pseudo-crimes instead of addressing the root issues, including enforcing existing laws. Many residents of Solingen still feel as if time has stood still due to the recent attack, and the processing of the act is made more difficult by the visits of politicians.
The SPD, the political party currently in power in Solingen, achieved a good result in the recent municipal elections, and it is likely that current visits by politicians in Solingen are motivated by these election results. However, the SPD leader Saskia Esken's statement that "nothing can be learned" from the Solingen attack is perceived as brazen.
The victims of past years serve as a reminder to end the state failure. The federal president has announced a visit to Solingen, and the upcoming elections and the feared good showing of the AfD in the east may be driving politicians to visit the city.
The debate about the length of knives is perceived as a distraction from the root issues. Many feel that the focus should be on enforcing existing laws and ensuring the safety of its citizens. As the country moves forward, it is clear that change is needed to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
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