SPD Federal Parliament Member Macit Karaahmetoğlu strongly reacted to AfD's Saxony-Anhalt Prime Ministerial candidate Ulrich Siegmund's remarks linking defense industry production with “remigration” and deportation policies. Karaahmetoğlu argued that AfD's policies towards immigrants are now emerging more clearly.

While discussions continue in Germany regarding the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's migration and “remigration” policies, a striking statement came from SPD Federal Parliament Member Macit Karaahmetoğlu.

Karaahmetoğlu reacted to AfD's Saxony-Anhalt Prime Ministerial candidate Ulrich Siegmund's remarks linking defense industry production in the state with the “remigration” and deportation policies he advocated for future implementation.

Siegmund's statement, while explaining the need to support the defense industry, that suitable tools would be needed for future “remigration” and deportation processes, was evaluated by Karaahmetoğlu as an important sign regarding AfD's migration policies.

“Will you deport immigrants at gunpoint?”

Karaahmetoğlu directly addressed the AfD politician, stating, “I openly ask Ulrich Siegmund here: When you come to power, do you intend to take immigrants from their homes at gunpoint and deport them?”

Karaahmetoğlu, arguing that AfD's true objectives have become more visible as it approaches power, asserted that the party poses a threat not only to immigrants but also to the rule of law and democratic order in Germany.

Karaahmetoğlu said, “What kind of further statements do people need to hear to understand what AfD might do if it comes to power? As it approaches power, AfD, which reveals its true intentions, is a threat not only to immigrants but to Germany and everyone who believes in the rule of law and democracy in Germany.”

“It is striking to bring together arms production and the expulsion of people in the same sentence”

The SPD deputy stated that Siegmund's bringing together the issues of the defense industry and the expulsion of immigrants from the country in the same statement revealed AfD's approach to Germany.

Karaahmetoğlu stated, “A prime ministerial candidate talks about expelling people from this country while discussing arms production. Even being able to combine these two topics in the same sentence shows what kind of place AfD wants to turn Germany into.”

“Remigration” Debate: “Who will go, who will stay?”

Karaahmetoğlu stated that the concept of “remigration,” which AfD has been using for a long time, should no longer be seen merely as a political slogan, and raised questions about its practical implications.

In his statement, Karaahmetoğlu made the following assessments:

“AfD has been saying ‘remigration,’ or ‘return migration,’ for years. So what is its real-life equivalent? Who will go? Who will be allowed to stay here? Who will decide who belongs to Germany? Siegmund’s latest words show that we can no longer postpone these questions. Will you send back those who do not want to leave at gunpoint?”

Warning to the Turkish community: “They don’t mean us”

Karaahmetoğlu emphasized that people of immigrant origin living in Germany should not view AfD's rhetoric as an issue concerning only newly arrived immigrants.

Karaahmetoğlu stated that there is a belief, especially within the Turkish community in Germany, that “We have been living here for years, working, we are citizens; AfD doesn’t mean us,” and said that this approach should be questioned.

Karaahmetoğlu said, “Because the distinction AfD wants to establish is not only between passports, but is shaped by who is considered a ‘true German’ in their eyes.”

“People of immigrant origin are an inseparable part of Germany”

Karaahmetoğlu stated that people of immigrant origin living in Germany should not be seen as a community added to the country later, and drew attention to the role of immigrants in the country's economic, scientific, cultural, and social life.

Karaahmetoğlu continued his words as follows:

“Your doctor in the hospital, your professor at the university, your company's manager, the engineer in your factory, the tradesperson in your neighborhood… Germany's migration story is no longer just the story of labor migration. Millions of people are the bearers of this country's economy, science, culture, and daily life.”

Karaahmetoğlu, asserting that AfD aims to create a new dividing line within society, stated, “What AfD wants to do is to draw a new ‘who is with us, who is not’ line over all this shared life.”

“The truth can no longer be hidden”

At the end of his statement, SPD Federal Parliament Member Macit Karaahmetoğlu called on the public, arguing that AfD's policies are now more clearly visible.

Karaahmetoğlu concluded his remarks with the following statements:

“There is no longer any need to read between the lines to understand AfD. They are saying it themselves. The truth can no longer be hidden. If there are still those today who say, ‘They don’t mean us,’ they should listen carefully to the warnings today, so they don’t say tomorrow, ‘How could we not have seen this?’”