Analysis-Why German politicians are facing growing violence

FILE PHOTO: Governing Mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey, delivers a speech during the ceremony of granting honorary citizenship of Berlin to pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, at the 'Rotes Rathaus' town hall in Berlin, Germany, April 21, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - The black-clad attackers beat up Matthias Ecke so badly as he put up posters in Dresden that he needed surgery. In Nordhorn, a man threw eggs at a lawmaker then punched him in the face. In Berlin, a pensioner hit a senator on the head with a bag.

Just three of the assaults that German politicians have suffered over the past week as campaigns get underway for European Parliament and district council elections.