Ulrich Siegmund has led Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany's (AfD) campaign to a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote in the state election on 6 September 2026. The 35-year-old businessman has spent a decade in state politics and built a campaign around social media, personal appearances and nostalgia for former East Germany.
Siegmund's approachable public image has helped him present a friendlier face for a party known for its hardline positions on immigration and other issues. Among his most recognisable campaign symbols were Simson mopeds, East German-made vehicles that he rode at events and used to connect his political message with regional identity and memories of life before reunification.
