“Everything is possible” is the election campaign slogan of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the leader in Saxony-Anhalt, where the polls have just closed. It talks of a seminal moment for the country. Ulrich Siegmund, who has been polling in pole position to become the state leader, knows he has history in his grasp.
The headlines this week have focused on the prospect of Germany having its first far-right state since the Second World War. It’s the fear of the ghosts of the past and what could come that has seen other parties put up a firewall, “Brandmauer” in German. A sanitary cordon around them, an agreement to stay clear. German intelligence agencies have designated elements of the party as right-wing extremist.
But this is a different party from the AfD of the past. The vitriolic slogans of “Enough is Enough” have been replaced by a positive mantra. Its leader has been labelled Germany’s “Most Dangerous Man” by Der Spiegel magazine, for being a “quote-friendly, approachable but dangerous seducer” whose persona masks a far more radical programme. Ulrich Siegmund says it’s a typical establishment set-up, fake PR. He’s even been signing copies of the cover.
This story originally appeared on France24
