AfD winner Siegmund links “remigration offensives” to security equipment

Ulrich Siegmund, whose AfD won 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt, was asked about defence production and said such manufacturing could also provide the “Hilfsmittel” needed for future “Remigrations- und Abschiebeoffensiven.” His office subsequently clarified that he meant equipment, vehicles and protective technology for police and security authorities, not necessarily weapons.

That clarification is revealing rather than entirely reassuring. The state AfD programme already proposes a deportation task force, ending the constitutional right to asylum, possible electronic tagging and house arrest for some migrants, and asset confiscation. Siegmund separately said this week that “remigration is much more than just deportation” and applies to people who, in his formulation, do not want to contribute.

“remigration” is moving from an intentionally ambiguous campaign slogan toward discussion of the actual state machinery that an AfD government would want to build.