Politics · Germany · 4 hrs ago
Siegmund and Müller clash over Ukraine and Saxony-Anhalt’s leadership
AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund and CDU lawmaker Sepp Müller clashed on MDR’s “Fakt ist” talk show in Magdeburg.
Müller called Siegmund’s remarks “indecent,” saying he discussed Ukraine without condemning Russia’s invasion and accused Ukraine’s supporters of not wanting peace.
Siegmund said Ukraine aid takes money from needs at home, including school repairs and kindergartens.
He also argued that other parties should work with the AfD to solve problems in the state, and criticised the CDU’s plan to leave the chamber during the vote for minister-president.
The AfD won Saxony-Anhalt’s state election, and Siegmund wants to become minister-president.
He needs at least three votes from other groups to win, but gave no clear answer about where they might come from.
Siegmund said the political situation could change in two months.
Ulrich Siegmund and Sepp Müller clashed during an MDR television discussion about Ukraine, political cooperation and Saxony-Anhalt’s future leadership.
Müller accused Siegmund of speaking about Ukraine without mentioning Russia’s unlawful war and of suggesting that Ukraine’s supporters do not want peace.
Siegmund said support for Ukraine diverted money from needs in Saxony-Anhalt and urged other parties to work with the AfD.
Siegmund said the AfD had won the state election but would have preferred an absolute majority.
He remained vague when asked where he could find the votes needed to become minister-president.
- Who
- Ulrich Siegmund of the AfD and Sepp Müller of the CDU. Siegmund wants to become minister-president of Saxony-Anhalt, while Müller wants to lead the CDU in the state.
- What
- They clashed over Ukraine, cooperation between parties and the state’s political leadership.
- When
- During an MDR discussion reported on 16 October 2026.
- Where
- On the MDR programme “Fakt ist” in Magdeburg.
- Why
- They disagreed over Siegmund’s statements about Ukraine and whether other parties should cooperate with the AfD.
Ulrich Siegmund
Sepp Müller
Ukraine support
Ulrich Siegmund
Siegmund said money spent supporting Ukraine was unavailable for needs such as school repairs and kindergartens in Saxony-Anhalt.
Sepp Müller
Müller said Siegmund discussed Ukraine without mentioning Russia’s unlawful war and wrongly suggested that Ukraine’s supporters did not want peace.
Political cooperation
Ulrich Siegmund
Siegmund called other parties’ efforts to keep their distance from the AfD childish and urged them to talk and work together.
Sepp Müller
Müller criticised Siegmund’s statements and suggestions as indecent.
Minister-president vote
Ulrich Siegmund
Siegmund said the political situation could change and did not specify where the AfD would get the votes it needs.
Sepp Müller
Müller pointed to the CDU’s plan to leave the chamber and the BSW’s intention to abstain, and asked who would vote for Siegmund.
Siegmund said the AfD’s victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election made history.
WELT reported on the exchange between Siegmund and Müller on the MDR programme “Fakt ist” in Magdeburg.
Siegmund said the political situation could be different in two months but did not say where he would find the votes to become minister-president.
- Programme
- MDR’s “Fakt ist
- Location
- Magdeburg
- State election date cited by Siegmund
- 6 September
- AfD’s stated preference
- An absolute majority
- Votes needed by the AfD
- At least three from other parliamentary groups
- BSW position
- Planned to abstain
1 source
What people are saying
That is highly indecent, what you are doing here, highly indecent!
You have repeated yourself often now.
You have your pants full, is that right? Of democracy!
On 6 September, history was made. The people of Saxony-Anhalt chose political change more clearly than ever before.