Controversy Surrounds Germany’s AfD as Protests Erupt Ahead of Elections

Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has sparked outrage by distributing election flyers in Karlsruhe that resemble “deportation tickets,” targeting immigrant households, Anadolu Agency reported.

The flyers, designed to mimic one-way flight tickets to “a safe country of origin,” list February 23—the date of the upcoming parliamentary elections—as the departure date. Karlsruhe’s Social Democratic Mayor, Frank Mentrup, condemned the flyers, stating they instill fear in immigrant communities and threaten social cohesion. Local police are investigating potential incitement to hatred.

Meanwhile, protests erupted in Cologne as approximately 600 demonstrators gathered to oppose the AfD’s candidate selection for the same elections. Protesters chanted slogans against the party and attempted to block access to the venue, prompting police intervention.

The AfD, known for its anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric, is under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency due to concerns over its far-right tendencies. Recent polls indicate that 22% of Germans plan to vote for the AfD, making it the second-strongest party in the country.