Germany's AfD Investigated for Racial Incitement

With Germany's federal elections set for February 23, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is under investigation for distributing controversial campaign materials that incite racial hatred. The AfD's campaign includes mock plane tickets aimed at sending 'illegal migrants' back to their countries, which has drawn criticism from local officials who believe these actions foster fear among communities. Current polls show the CDU leading with over 30%, while the AfD follows in second place with around 20%, endorsing policies like 'remigration' or mass deportation. The CDU has also taken a hard stance on immigration, with leader Friedrich Merz advocating against dual citizenship, further intensifying the immigration debate. Despite their polling strength, experts caution that these parties may struggle to translate votes into governing power due to Germany's mixed proportional representation electoral system. Voter trust surveys indicate that both the CDU and AfD are perceived as the most reliable parties on immigration issues, reflecting the election's focus on this contentious topic.