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AfD leaders sing former East German anthem at campaign rally ahead of state election

· Politics DEU

Alternative for Germany co-leader Tino Chrupalla and the party's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, joined several hundred attendees in singing the former East German national anthem at a campaign event in Dessau-Roßlau. Cabaret performer Uwe Steimle struck up "Auferstanden aus Ruinen", with Chrupalla and Siegmund singing along for portions of the song.

The incident drew swift criticism from Chancellery Minister Thorsten Frei of the CDU. Separately, prosecutors in Dessau-Roßlau have opened an investigation into Steimle over allegedly defamatory remarks about Friedrich Merz and Angela Merkel, under a statute covering threats that disturb the public peace.

The rally comes as Saxony-Anhalt prepares for its state election on 6 September.

Covered by 5 outlets across 2 countries

Sources

The reporting this story is built on

zeit.de DEU Sachsen-Anhalt: Chrupalla und Siegmund singen DDR-Hymnehandelsblatt.com DEU Sachsen-Anhalt: „Auferstanden aus Ruinen“ – DDR-Hymne bei AfD-Veranstaltungzeit.de DEU Sachsen-Anhalt: «Auferstanden aus Ruinen»: DDR-Hymne bei AfD-Veranstaltungzeit.de DEU Ulrich Siegmund und Tino Chrupalla: Thorsten Frei kritisiert Singen der DDR-Hymne bei AfD-Veranstaltungfocus.de DEU Plötzlich singen Chrupalla und Siegmund die DDR-Hymne
Additional coverage

Others reporting the same event

spiegel.de DEU Sachsen-Anhalt: Kabarettist Uwe Steimle singt DDR-Hymne, Tino Chrupalla und Ulrich Siegmund stimmen eintvn24.pl POL Hymn NRD na wiecu Alternatywy dla Niemiec. "Wyjątkowo niepokojące"

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