Overview
- Ulrich Siegmund, which spoke on Thursday, said the AfD “does not categorically reject” domestic arms production because “for later remigration- and deportation-offensives we will of course need corresponding tools,” a clip of the remark has since gone viral and been publicly confirmed.
- Political leaders from the SPD, Greens, CDU and other parties condemned the comment as a threat and called it a move toward violent enforcement, while the BSW — the only party open to talks with the AfD — publicly distanced itself.
- AfD figures defended or qualified the statement: defence spokesman Rüdiger Lucassen cited legal avenues for Bundeswehr support in a support role (Amtshilfe) for deportation flights, prompting debate over what German law allows for military assistance to police tasks.
- The remark came in the context of contested plans for an Elbit Systems site in Sangerhausen, a proposed 130‑hectare project said to offer up to ~400 jobs that remains unconfirmed and faces local protests and ethical objections over the firm’s military ties.
- The use of the term ‘remigration’ links the language to far‑right and extremist currents, deepens scrutiny of how the AfD might govern after its electoral win in Sachsen‑Anhalt, and could feed legal and political questions in ongoing Verfassungsschutz and coalition discussions.