The number of counseling cases at the 'Starke Stelle' for local politicians affected by hate and incitement rose sharply in 2025. The service supported over 260 people seeking advice, compared to 120 in its first year. Experts warn of risks to democracy.
The 'Starke Stelle,' a counseling service for local politicians and engaged citizens affected by hate, hostility, and violence, saw a sharp increase in inquiries in 2025. According to the German Association of Cities, the facility, launched on August 1, 2024, supported over 260 people seeking advice. The contacts concerned security-related questions, legal guidance, and psychosocial support. The operator is the German Forum for Crime Prevention (DFK). In its first year of 2024, there were 120 inquiries.
BKA President Holger Münch has repeatedly warned that attacks on local politicians threaten democracy by deterring potential candidates. Indeed, it is increasingly common to find no candidates for local elections.
In parallel, the BKA's Central Reporting Office for criminal online content (ZMI) recorded exactly 20,811 cases in 2025, nearly 21,000 reports. The numbers are rising steadily: 514 in 2021, 4,182 in 2022, 13,043 in 2023, and 24,588 in 2024. The ZMI has centralized decentralized structures from the federal states to combat hate and incitement online more effectively.
The BKA states: 'The spread of hate and incitement on the internet affects more and more people and is developing into a worrying phenomenon in the virtual world.' Together with partners, the BKA consistently pursues crimes such as propaganda, incitement to hatred, or threats. The aim is to counter the coarsening of digital communication.
