Rüstung und Remigration: Rüstungsaussage: AfD-Spitzenmann Siegmund sorgt für Empörung

AfD's Siegmund sparks outrage over comments linking arms production with deportation offensive. The AfD's top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, has caused a stir with his remarks on the production of military equipment and its connection to the party's planned deportation policies. "The statements made by Ulrich Siegmund represent a new level," stated Katja Pähle, the chairperson of the SPD faction on the state parliament.

"Suggesting the use of arms as a tool of politics is a form of violence." The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Business Software Alliance (BSW) have both expressed strong disapproval of Siegmund's comments, with the BSW accusing the AfD of seeking to justify the presence of Israeli arms company Elbit through arms technology for deportation.

Siegmund's comments came after a meeting of the AfD's faction in the Magdeburg state parliament, where he responded to a journalist's question about the planned establishment of an Israeli arms company by stating that the party does not blanketly condemn arms production, but rather emphasizes the need for domestic security, stability, and self-defense.

Siegmund added that each case should be considered individually, stressing the importance of examining what is produced, under what conditions, and whether it could lead to involvement in foreign conflicts. The BSW has distanced itself from Siegmund's remarks, with Claudia Wittig, the deputy faction leader, stating that Siegmund failed to consider the legal implications of his statements.

The BSW reaffirmed its opposition to the possible establishment of an Israeli arms company in southern Saxony-Anhalt, particularly given the company's involvement in a war that has faced international condemnation for violations of international humanitarian law. The SPD has termed Siegmund's comments a "political threat," expressing shock at the politician's language and ideologies, which they see as reminiscent of totalitarian regimes.

Even in the Bundestag, the comments have incited outrage, with Green Party member of parliament Irene Mihalic calling Siegmund's statements "shockingly deplorable." Mihalic emphasized that the AfD's agenda does not merely involve setting foot on the parliamentary stage but instead threatens to bypass the rule of law and use force against those who do not fit into their supremacist worldview.

The impact of Siegmund's remarks on any ongoing legal proceedings against the AfD and the Federal Office for the Protection of Constitution remains unclear. The court had previously found insufficient evidence in the material submitted by the federal agency to demonstrate "aggressive fighting behavior" on the part of the AfD.