Ulrich Siegmund's degree row overshadows AfD's Saxony-Anhalt campaign
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, has spent the 2026 campaign fending off doubts about his university degree — a dispute that sources describe in sharply conflicting terms even as polls reportedly put.
Ulrich Siegmund is the AfD's lead candidate for the Saxony-Anhalt state election on 6 September 2026. A member of the state Landtag since 2016 and co-chair of its AfD parliamentary group since August 2022, he faced a 2026 campaign dispute over his bachelor's degree, which the Euro-FH university reportedly confirmed he completed.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, has been forced to publicly defend his academic credentials after doubts and rumours circulated during the 2026 campaign about whether he actually held the university degree listed in his biography. Siegmund disclosed where he earned his bachelor's degree and stated that transparency had been established, saying that for ten years nobody had taken an interest in his qualifications. Siegmund, a member of the Saxony-Anhalt Landtag since 2016, has served as co-chair of the AfD parliamentary group alongside Oliver Kirchner since August 2022, making him leader of the opposition. The state's domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD's Saxony-Anhalt branch as confirmed right-wing extremist. Sources disagree on whether the degree questions are settled: the Euro-FH university reportedly confirmed he completed his studies, while others note discrepancies in the degree title. The dispute matters because the AfD is polling at 41 percent ahead of the state election on 6 September 2026, and co-leader Alice Weidel has described Siegmund as a potential first AfD minister-president.
The degree dispute that dogged the AfD's lead candidate
During the 2026 campaign, doubts and rumours circulated about whether Siegmund actually held the university degree listed in his biography. What began as speculation about his curriculum vitae grew into a public debate that trailed the AfD's lead candidate through the race.
Siegmund responded by publicly disclosing where he had earned his bachelor's degree, and stated that transparency regarding his academic credentials had been established. According to reports of his remarks, he noted that for ten years nobody had taken an interest in his degrees.
The sources, however, tell conflicting stories about what followed. According to Junge Freiheit, which published Siegmund's bachelor certificate, claims then emerged that his degree programme had never existed as a Bachelor of Arts — claims the paper said were refuted by an archive find. Other reporting pointed in the opposite direction: Siegmund states he holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and business psychology, yet the Hamburg distance university reportedly offers that degree designation only in a different form. Whether the doubts were ever fully resolved remains contested between the two accounts.
Siegmund enters the Saxony-Anhalt Landtag
Siegmund becomes co-chair of the AfD parliamentary group in the Saxony-Anhalt Landtag alongside Oliver Kirchner, making him leader of the opposition
Siegmund attends a far-right meeting in Potsdam
The Saxony-Anhalt Landtag votes to remove Siegmund from his position as chair of the social affairs committee
During the campaign period, Siegmund's university degree and curriculum vitae become the subject of public speculation and debate
Siegmund publicly discloses where he earned his bachelor's degree following the debate over his credentials
Siegmund states that transparency regarding his academic degree has been established
Siegmund says that for ten years nobody had taken an interest in his degrees
Junge Freiheit publishes Siegmund's bachelor certificate, after which claims emerge that his degree programme did not exist as a B.A.; the paper reports that an archive find refuted that claim
The Euro-FH university confirms that Siegmund successfully completed his studies and explains why the degree programme carries a different title today
The European Distance University Hamburg confirms to Junge Freiheit that Siegmund completed his bachelor's studies there
Following the debate about Siegmund's studies, Minister-President Sven Schulze also faces questions about his own academic degree and comments on the allegations
What the university confirmed — and what remains unclear
The clearest account of the documentary evidence comes from Junge Freiheit. According to the newspaper, it published Siegmund's bachelor certificate, after which claims emerged that his degree programme had never existed as a Bachelor of Arts. The paper reported that an archive find refuted that claim.
The university itself has weighed in, though through the same reporting channel. The Euro-FH — the European Distance University Hamburg — reportedly confirmed to Junge Freiheit that Siegmund successfully completed his bachelor's studies there, and explained why the programme carries a different title today than the one on his certificate.
What remains unresolved is the designation itself. Siegmund states he holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and business psychology. Yet the Hamburg distance university reportedly offers that degree designation only in a different form, a discrepancy that critics have seized on even after the university's confirmation. Whether the doubts have been fully settled therefore depends on which account one credits: the completion of the studies is corroborated, but the exact title of the degree is not.
A candidate on the verge of power
Ulrich Siegmund leads the AfD into the Saxony-Anhalt state election scheduled for 6 September 2026, which will elect the 9th Landtag. Reports ahead of the vote put the party at 41 percent, though the timing and source of that polling are unclear. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has reportedly described Siegmund as a potential first AfD minister-president, raising the prospect of the party taking power in a German state for the first time. Siegmund appeared at a campaign kickoff event in Magdeburg, where supporters reportedly received him enthusiastically, and he faced Minister-President Sven Schulze in a heated televised debate ahead of the election.
Siegmund's record in the Landtag
Siegmund has sat in the Saxony-Anhalt Landtag since 2016. In August 2022 he became co-chair of the AfD parliamentary group alongside Oliver Kirchner, making him leader of the opposition. The state AfD association in which he is active has been classified by Saxony-Anhalt's domestic intelligence agency as confirmed right-wing extremist.
On 25 November 2023, Siegmund attended a far-right meeting in Potsdam. In February 2024, the Landtag voted to remove him from his post as chair of the social affairs committee.
According to a taz report, Siegmund appeared at one event in a light-coloured suit, shaking hands and smiling for an extended period before beginning to sweat; the paper's headline characterised him and his associates as delivering racism in a cheerful manner.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ulrich Siegmund?
Ulrich Siegmund is a German politician from the AfD and the party's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt. He has sat in the state parliament, the Landtag, since 2016, and since August 2022 has co-chaired the AfD parliamentary group with Oliver Kirchner, making him leader of the opposition. The AfD state association he belongs to has been classified by the state's domestic intelligence agency as confirmed right-wing extremist.
What is the controversy about Ulrich Siegmund's university degree?
During the 2026 campaign, doubts and rumors circulated about whether Siegmund actually held the university degree listed in his biography. He then publicly disclosed where he earned his bachelor's degree and said transparency had been established, adding that for ten years nobody had taken an interest in his degrees. Sources disagree on whether the matter is fully settled, since some report confirmation of his studies while others note discrepancies in the degree title.
Did Siegmund's university confirm his degree?
According to Junge Freiheit, which published his bachelor certificate, the European Distance University Hamburg (Euro-FH) confirmed that Siegmund completed his bachelor's studies there. The university also explained why the degree programme carries a different title today, after claims emerged that his programme did not exist as a B.A. Junge Freiheit reported that an archive find refuted that claim. These points rest on the paper's reporting and the university's statements to it.
When is the Saxony-Anhalt state election and how is the AfD polling?
The election, which will choose the 9th Landtag, is scheduled for 6 September 2026. Polls ahead of the vote reportedly put the AfD at 41 percent. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has described Siegmund as a potential first AfD minister-president. Siegmund and Minister-President Sven Schulze also engaged in a heated televised debate ahead of the election, according to reports.
What other controversies has Siegmund been involved in?
Siegmund attended a far-right meeting in Potsdam on 25 November 2023. In February 2024 the Landtag voted to remove him as chair of its social affairs committee. He appeared on Markus Lanz's ZDF talk show, an appearance a Berliner Zeitung analysis described as challenging the show's usual format because Siegmund posed questions back to the host. A taz report characterized him and his associates with a headline referencing racism delivered in a cheerful manner.
Compiled from reporting by 12 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
