Far-Right AfD Uses Iconic Simson Mopeds to Court East German Voters

Nearly 5,000 people converged on the festival grounds in Quedlinburg, Germany, on August 24, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party turned the iconic Simson moped into an election campaign vehicle ahead of a crucial state vote in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, according to reporting by Reuters. Led by charismatic candidate Ulrich Siegmund atop a blue moped, the event highlighted the party’s strategy of tapping into lingering East German identity and economic anxieties 35 years after reunification.

The AfD’s focus on the Simson brand—widely known as the Vespa of East Germany—has proven effective with younger voters. According to federal election data cited by Reuters, party support among voters aged 18 to 34 in Saxony-Anhalt climbed to 40% from roughly 25% during the 2021 election. The campaign builds on the party’s Vision 2026 manifesto, which frames the eastern region as a model for the country rather than a disadvantaged area.

Simson Culture and East German Identity

During Sunday’s gathering, 35-year-old Siegmund addressed the crowd about the cultural significance of the mopeds. My parents instilled in me an understanding of everything that happened back then. Not everything was wonderful, Siegmund told the audience, as reported by Reuters. But this Simson culture represents individual freedom of movement. It stands for a time when we in this country stuck together.

Sociologist Daniel Kubiak of the Humboldt University of Berlin explained to Reuters that East German identity formed largely after reunification as residents adapted to West German political and economic systems while dealing with feelings of structural disadvantage. Mainstream politics often neglected these shared concerns over unequal opportunities, leaving space for the AfD to leverage identity politics. A 2024 government-commissioned survey found that 67% of respondents in eastern Germany considered financial security their top concern, compared to 62% in the west.

Trademark Controversy and Counter-Protests

The use of the Simson name has drawn sharp public criticism from descendants of the brand’s original Jewish founders, who fled the rise of the Nazis after the company operated as a weapons manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Following World War Two, the company focused on two-wheelers like the Schwalbe and the sporty S50, providing young people a way to bypass long waiting lists for automobiles.

Family spokesperson Dennis Baum condemned the party’s platform at an anti-AfD rally in Germany last month, stating, The threats against immigrants, people of other skin colours and sexual minorities are something we want no part of, according to Reuters. The AfD has denied allegations of racism, asserting that it only advocates for stricter immigration controls. Meanwhile, the Center for Intercultural Understanding Dresden (ZVID) has launched an online petition with nearly 24,000 signatories, urging the current trademark holder to issue a cease-and-desist letter to protect the brand’s reputation.

Outside the main exhibition area, roughly 100 counter-demonstrators gathered on Sunday. Police cordoned them off in a separate lot, where their view of the festival grounds was blocked by trees and crowds of supporters.