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In Tangermünde, stronghold of Saxony-Anhalt favorite, residents are not afraid of AfD

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Ongoing story
  • Tangermünde residents express mixed views about AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund, who is expected to win Sunday's Saxony-Anhalt election and could secure an outright majority.
  • Some locals praise Siegmund's personal qualities or say he understands public concerns, while others oppose his party and fear AfD taking power.
  • The town's mayor says Siegmund's family is not far-right, despite the candidate's reputation and the regional intelligence service's classification of AfD as extremist.

Ulrich Siegmund is Tangermünde's most famous resident, and in this small town on the Elbe, many people do not recognize the image of him as “Germany's most dangerous man.” The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, candidate is expected to win Sunday's Saxony-Anhalt election, possibly with an outright majority that could put him in charge of the state government.

Germany's most dangerous man

· Der SpiegelThe phrase appeared on a magazine cover describing AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund.

Der Spiegel used that stark description on its August cover, but 90-year-old Norma dismissed it as “nonsense.” Cleaning her windows in the historic center, she said, “The Blues are going to win,” referring to AfD's party color. But she was unsure whether Siegmund could really change anything. If he became state premier, she said, he would try to act, but “there would be many people above him” with greater power.

Sebastian, who owns a fishing accessories shop and went to school with Siegmund, said the candidate had “good intentions” and voiced things many people think. He nevertheless said Siegmund would not receive his vote. Sebastian said he did not believe in any party and complained that taxes were taking money from people's pockets.

nonsense

· Norma, Tangermünde residentShe dismissed Der Spiegel's description of Siegmund.

Another older woman, who declined to give her name, said Tangermünde also felt “dissatisfaction,” despite its immaculate historic center and extensive services for tourists. She blamed Chancellor Friedrich Merz's policies, including reforms involving health care, pensions and taxation, for helping AfD.

The Blues are going to win. But whether they will change things, I don't know.

· Norma, Tangermünde residentShe referred to AfD's party color while discussing the expected election result.

Jan and Kathleen, a couple walking near St. Stephen's Church, said they hoped Siegmund would not enter government. They said they were worried about AfD taking power because the party is regarded by Saxony-Anhalt's Interior Ministry intelligence services as a clear case of right-wing extremism. Mayor Steffen Schilm, an independent politician backed by the Christian Democratic Union, agreed with their concern about AfD but rejected the portrayal of Siegmund himself. “I know him. I know his whole family. I can tell you that this family is not far-right at all,” he told EFE.

I know him. I know his whole family. I can tell you that this family is not far-right at all.

· Steffen Schilm, mayor of TangermündeHe rejected the portrayal of Siegmund and his family as far-right.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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