Rüstung und Remigration: Empörung über AfD-Spitzenmann Siegmund wegen Rüstungsaussage

The AfD's top candidate in Sachsen-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, has sparked outrage with his statement on arms production in relation to an anticipated deportation offensive. "The remarks made by Ulrich Siegmund represent a new level of political rhetoric," said SPD faction leader Katja Pähle. "When the planned mass registration of people from Sachsen-Anhalt involves the introduction of arms-related goods into the equation, that's a reference to the use of force as a political tool."

The BSW, which had initially been open to collaboration with the AfD, also expressed strong disapproval, stating that the AfD promotes over-arming and "justifies the arrival of the Israeli arms company Elbit through the use of armaments for 'remigration'". BSW Co-President Fabio De Masi wrote, "This shows they don't want to govern and are desperate to find an exit through provocation."

Siegmund's comments came after the AfD's faction meeting at the Magdeburg State Parliament. In response to a journalist's question about the planned arrival of an Israeli arms company, Siegmund said, "We do not automatically condemn the production of arms because, of course, we will need corresponding assistance in the future deportation and expulsion offensive.

Of course, for the sake of internal security, our own stability, and also our territorial defense." Siegmund added, "We need to carefully consider each case, see what is being produced, under what conditions, and whether we are thereby risking involvement in foreign conflicts. We see that more critically then." The SPD called this a political threat, noting that it revealed a crude face of a politics whose language and ideas once more resembled totalitarian models.

The SPD faction leader demanded a statement from the BSW regarding Siegmund's comments. The Bund für Soziale Marktwirtschaft (BSW) had previously indicated it could cooperate with the AfD on a project and theme basis.