Sachsen-Anhalt: Ulrich Siegmund - gefeiert wie ein Politik-Popstar
Der AfD-Spitzenkandidat Ulrich Siegmund wurde während des Wahlkampfes vielerorts von seinen Anhängern gefeiert, machte Selfies und gab Autogramme. Wie geht es nach der Landtagswahl für ihn weiter?
In the state of Sachsen-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, a 35-year-old from the small town of Tangermünde, has become an iconic figure for his political party, the AfD. Throughout the campaign season, Siegmund was met with overwhelming support wherever he went, with hundreds gathering to see him on his motorbike and attending his public engagements.
People often waited in long lines to take a photo with the AfD politician, who rarely needed to provide concrete content during his appearances, content with simply smiling and conveying the message that they were part of a movement.
Siegmund's rise to prominence began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on Tiktok and Instagram by criticizing lockdown measures as a health policy spokesman for the AfD's state legislature. His engagement paid off, and in 2022, Siegmund was promoted to co-chairman of the party faction.
Despite facing criticism in the past, such as during a meeting in Potsdam involving extremist identity movement leader Martin Sellner, Siegmund shrugged off any harsh words and continued to promote his "us against them" rhetoric.
One controversy involved Siegmund's father, who allegedly received over €7,500 monthly as a Bundestag office employee for a fellow AfD party member. This sparked criticism, but Siegmund maintained his focus on his "us against them" message. Journalists frequently confronted Siegmund with radical statements from the AfD's election program during the campaign, but he often brushed off critical questions or tried to portray demands as harmless.
Siegmund has also been known to keep colleagues with a right-wing extremist background in his inner circle, dismissing concerns about their past affiliations.
As Sachsen-Anhalt may soon become too small for Siegmund, he is prepared for a possible move to Berlin before the 2029 Bundestag election. Ulrich Siegmund is well-versed in the art of campaigning, regardless of the challenges he faces.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
