AfD's Siegmund seeks historic state premiership in Saxony-Anhalt

Ulrich Siegmund, a 35-year-old businessman from Saxony-Anhalt, is campaigning to become the first state premier from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The eastern German state votes on September 6, with the AfD polling around 41 percent.

Siegmund, who joined the party over a decade ago, has cultivated a friendly public image that contrasts with the harder-edged rhetoric of some colleagues. He has spent months on the campaign trail, visiting towns and villages while maintaining an active social media presence.

His background in business psychology shapes his approach. He once ran a company selling scent-diffusion systems and says the experience taught him the value of creating a positive atmosphere. Der Spiegel magazine has called him "Germany's most dangerous man" for presenting a moderate face to a party that domestic intelligence classifies as extremist.

His policy platform criticises asylum policies, green energy initiatives, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's support for Ukraine. He dismisses the far-right label as an attempt by the political establishment to suppress alternative voices.

All major parties have ruled out cooperating with the AfD, a policy known as the "firewall." Incumbent premier Sven Schulze accuses Siegmund of planning a "political purge" and offering slogans rather than solutions.

Siegmund says a victory would be a first step toward national power in the 2029 federal election.