Pedestrians walk past an election poster showing Germany's Social Democratic Party SPD lead candidates Matthias Ecke (L) and Katarina Barley for the upcoming European Parliament elections in the city district Striesen of Dresden, eastern Germany on May 4, 2024. German Chancellor Scholz on May 4 condemned an attack on one of his party's European Parliament deputies as a "threat" to democracy after authorities said a political motive was suspected. Police said four unknown attackers beat up Matthias Ecke, an MEP for the Social Democratic Party (SPD), as he put up EU election posters in the eastern city of Dresden on Friday night, May 3. Ecke, 41, was "seriously injured" and required an operation after the attack, his party said. Police confirmed he needed hospital treatment. (Photo by JENS SCHLUETER / AFP)