The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is facing scrutiny regarding the suitability of some of its prospective new Members of Parliament (MPs) in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. This comes days after the party's recent win in the state.
During a photocall in Magdeburg on Thursday, presented by AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund, some members-elect were revealed to have backgrounds including criminal records, Stasi pasts, and connections to far-right networks. German media reports that among the 39 new parliamentarians for Saxony-Anhalt are a man alleged to have participated in pornography films and falsified academic qualifications, a former Stasi officer, and several members under criminal investigation for involvement in neo-Nazi organisations.
Two MPs are facing investigations into allegations they sought to continue the activities of the banned right-wing extremist organisation Artgemeinschaft, a neopagan group. The public prosecutor’s office also alleges the younger of the two violated weapons law; both deny the allegations. The former pornography actor was convicted of stealing bedding and was expelled from a university for falsifying his school leaving certificate, though he states he was readmitted after a legal challenge. An ex-Stasi officer, aged 78, who won a direct mandate, has admitted to working for the East German secret police.
Broadcaster ZDF also revealed that some AfD ministers-elect from the previous parliamentary group had ties to right-wing extremist groups, including membership in the outlawed Homeland-Loyal German Youth group (HDJ). Ulrich Siegmund, unanimously re-elected as the AfD’s parliamentary group leader, responded to questions about the biographies by referring to the men in jest as “the bad guys” and stating they would await investigation results.
Siegmund also drew criticism for linking arms production in Germany to the party’s planned deportation offensive. In response to a journalist's question about an Israeli arms company opening in the state, Siegmund said, "We do not categorically condemn the production of arms, because we will of course need equivalent resources for the future remigration and deportation offensive." Katja Pähle, chair of the Social Democrats (SPD) parliamentary group in Saxony-Anhalt, described Siegmund's statement as a "political threat" suggesting the use of "violence as a political tool."