During Caren Miosga’s talk show, the terrorist attack in Solingen took center stage, with SPD Chairwoman Saskia Esken calling for the strict enforcement of existing laws. Her comments on the attack’s implications, however, left many puzzled.
Solingen attack disrupts TV programming
The knife attack in Solingen, which resulted in three deaths and left several others injured at a city festival, also caused disruptions in television schedules. The team behind “Caren Miosga” adjusted their program, shifting from the originally planned topic “Transition or downfall – Will the traffic light coalition survive the elections in the East?” to a new focus: “After Solingen: How do we protect ourselves from Islamist violence?”
The guests on the show included NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU), SPD Chairwoman Saskia Esken, publicist Sineb El-Masrar, Michael Götschenberg (ARD expert on terrorism and internal security), and Jochen Kopelke, Federal Chairman of the Police Union.
A particular statement by Esken became a hot topic on social media. She remarked, “There isn’t much to learn from this attack,” in response to a question from the moderator, sparking widespread astonishment.
Esken’s defense of her position
Esken elaborated on her point, noting that the perpetrator was not previously known to the police and had not been under surveillance. She cautioned against placing the “entire population of over 80 million” under constant observation, emphasizing the need for careful consideration.
The SPD leader also reiterated a common warning from experts that the primary goal of such terrorist attacks is to unsettle free societies, urging that this must not be allowed to happen.
“We should not sacrifice our freedom for the sake of security, and we will not do so. That is exactly what Islamism seeks to achieve with these attacks,” Esken declared. She argued that attackers and their affiliated organizations, such as the Islamic State (IS) that claimed responsibility for the Solingen attack, aim to sow “uncertainty in our society so that we give up our freedoms.” Her conclusion: “We will not do that.”
Nonetheless, Esken stressed the importance of vigilance and prevention. She stated that all available intelligence must be gathered, acknowledging that much of what is observed is communicated openly on the internet. “But of course, we are not always there to keep an eye on everything,” Esken noted. She suggested that if authorities could analyze this data more effectively, they would be much further along.
As a certified computer scientist, Esken then turned her attention to legislation, pointing to the responsibility of internet providers in monitoring online content.
Esken praised the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) as a significant law that holds platforms like Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook accountable. However, she admitted that the implementation structures in Germany are “still not good enough” and need further improvement.
Esken also mentioned the Network Enforcement Act, which has been in place in Germany since 2017 to combat hate crimes, illegal misinformation, and other criminal content on social media platforms.
Online backlash and criticism
During the ARD talk show, Esken also made it clear that her party sees no room for deportations to Syria.
“We must realize that many of the millions of Syrians now living in Germany fled radical Islam and came here in search of safety. We cannot deny asylum to those clearly affected by such threats,” she argued in response to a question from the moderator.
Therefore, extensive demands, such as those from the CDU (more deportations and a ban on certain refugee groups), are not feasible. “We cannot do that, and it is clear that such a ban is unthinkable and not compatible with our laws, not with the European Refugee Convention, nor with our constitution,” the 62-year-old said.
Many viewers of the ARD talk show expressed their dismay over Esken’s remarks on the platform X. “Saskia Esken says that there’s nothing to learn from this terrorist attack, then adds the cliché that we shouldn’t let terrorists restrict our freedom – and ends with the Digital Services Act. If this is the SPD’s response to #Solingen, then good night,” tweeted “Bild” chief reporter Paul Ronzheimer.
Another user sarcastically commented, “Saskia #Esken has pushed the #SPD in #Thuringia and #Saxony below the 5-percent threshold on #Miosga.” Another user wrote, “Just a few hours after the Islamist attack in #Solingen, #Esken does what politicians always do: downplay and carry on.”
