Germany's far-right poised for power in state election
Ulrich Siegmund, a candidate for the far-right AfD party, is utilizing TikTok and a polished public image to lead polls in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The party's platform focuses on strict immigration policies and the deportation of migrants.
Why it matters
The potential victory of the AfD in a state election marks a significant shift in German politics, testing the influence of social media campaigning on traditional political structures.
HALLE, GERMANY — Everywhere Ulrich Siegmund goes, an influencer follows — streaming live from the campaign trail. Siegmund is the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate running for governor in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
But Siegmund needs neither influencers nor journalists. The 35-year-old former marketing man is a TikTok star in his own right and his party is comfortably leading polls Sunday's state election, which could make the AfD the first far-right party to lead a German state government since World War II.
Siegmund has almost half as many followers on the platform as people eligible to vote in this small state. He makes a point of taking time to answer their questions personally, often from the comfort of his back porch.
In every video, he's dressed in a flawlessly ironed white polo shirt or starched white dress shirt — the uniform of Germany's newly professionalized far-right.
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