Dietmar Bartsch, a parliamentarian and former faction leader of the Left Party, sharply criticized the latest cover of “Der Spiegel” magazine. The cover features Ulrich Siegmund, the top AfD candidate for Saxony-Anhalt, presented in the style of a wanted poster, complete with the caption: “Germany’s most dangerous man.”
Speaking to the news channel “Welt” on Friday, Bartsch argued that the cover serves as political campaigning aid for the AfD. He questioned how the publication, based in Hamburg and far removed from Saxony-Anhalt, could make such a significant decision without adequate knowledge of the local context. He deemed the action irresponsible, specifically targeting the editor-in-chief. Furthermore, Bartsch countered the publication’s framing of danger, stating that he finds the people who participate in actions such as the CSD (Demonstrations) to be the truly dangerous ones because they risk their lives.
For Bartsch, the decision to highlight an individual like Siegmund on the magazine’s cover constitutes a scandal. He urged the media to seriously reconsider their standards of journalistic diligence, calling the choice “insane” and unforgivably irresponsible, particularly given the distance between the Hamburg editorial office and Saxony-Anhalt.
Bartsch also expressed strong negative views on Siegmund personally, describing him as “completely unsympathetic.” He asserted that Siegmund should be kept away from positions of responsibility, claiming that while he possesses a large mouth, he lacks competence, especially concerning finances and household management. Bartsch concluded that Siegmund’s performance in the political arena has been “embarrassing,” adding that the optimal response to him is simply to ignore him, which he characterizes as the highest form of political confrontation.
