AfD politician Ulrich Siegmund sparked nationwide outrage in September 2026 after suggesting that military equipment could be deployed during forced deportations. According to reports from Antenne Bayern, Siegmund made the remarks in Magdeburg following a constituent meeting of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) state parliamentary group, shortly after the party’s victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
Siegmund’s Comments on Defense Gear and Deportations
When questioned by a journalist about the planned establishment of an Israeli defense contractor in the region, Ulrich Siegmund stated that the party does not generally condemn the production of military goods. According to Antenne Bayern, Siegmund explained that such equipment would be needed during a subsequent remigration and deportation offensive, citing internal security, national stability, and national defense. Following immediate public backlash, Siegmund clarified to the German Press Agency (dpa) that the defense sector encompasses a wide array of supplies. He stated that the sector includes equipment, vehicles, and protective gear relied upon by the Bundeswehr, police, and security authorities to enforce the law and carry out deportations.
Political Backlash and Constitutional Context
Lawmakers from multiple political parties condemned the statements. According to Antenne Bayern, SPD parliamentary business manager Dirk Wiese stated that Siegmund intended to enforce deportation plans using weapons of war, crossing every red line. Left party group leader Sören Pellmann compared the rhetoric to historical Nazi announcements, while Green Party federal leader Felix Banaszak described the remarks as disturbing evidence of the AfD’s willingness to disregard constitutional boundaries. Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) co-federal leader Fabio De Masi criticized the remarks as an attempt to provoke rather than govern, and BSW deputy state parliamentary group leader Claudia Wittig noted that deportations are not a military task.
The AfD branch in Saxony-Anhalt has been classified by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization since 2023. State authorities maintain that the regional party’s positions violate the democratic principles of human dignity and democracy, though the state branch is currently challenging this classification in court.
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