A far-right party uses a mock plane ticket to campaign for deportations in Germany
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German police were investigating an election campaign flyer by a far-right party that looks like a plane ticket and calls for the deportation of “illegal immigrants.”. The flyer was published on the website of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's local Karlsruhe branch. It’s shaped like a boarding ticket and reads “only remigration can still save Germany.” It’s dated Feb. 23, when Germany holds a general election.
About 30,000 fliers were distributed in the southwestern city, German news agency dpa reported. Police in Karlsruhe told The Associated Press on Wednesday they have launched a criminal investigation on suspicion of incitement to hatred. The issue has also gained traction on social media with some users claiming the flyer was deliberately thrown into the mailboxes of migrants. The AfD regional Karlsruhe branch said that the flyer was aimed at all eligible voters, dpa reported.
The mayor of Karlsruhe, Frank Mentrup, said AfD had crossed a red line with the flyer. Finding “such notes in the letterbox reinforces a feeling of insecurity and fear,” and that should not be part of an election campaign, he told public broadcaster SWR.
Germany's ailing economy as well as migration are among the top issues concerning voters. Polls show AfD in second place ahead of the election, with about 20% support. However, the party's candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, who recently held a live chat with Elon Musk after he endorsed AfD on his X platform, has no realistic chance of becoming Germany’s leader as other parties refuse to work with AfD.
