Berlin – The police in Germany are currently probing a controversial campaign flyer from a far-right political party that resembles a plane ticket and advocates for the deportation of “illegal immigrants.”
This flyer was made public on the website of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s local branch in Karlsruhe and is styled like a boarding pass. It carries the message, “Only remigration can still save Germany,” and is dated February 23, coinciding with the date of Germany’s upcoming general election.
Reports indicate that approximately 30,000 of these flyers were circulated throughout the southwestern city, as reported by the German news agency dpa.
Authorities in Karlsruhe have initiated a criminal investigation due to suspicions of inciting hatred. The flyer has stirred significant discussion on social media platforms, with some users alleging that it was intentionally placed in the mailboxes of migrants. However, the AfD’s regional branch insisted that the flyer was designed to reach all eligible voters.
Karlsruhe’s mayor, Frank Mentrup, expressed his disapproval, stating that the AfD has crossed a line with this pamphlet. He remarked that discovering such materials in people’s mailboxes only heightens feelings of insecurity and fear, which should have no place in a democratic election campaign.
Key concerns among voters include Germany’s struggling economy and migration issues. Current polls indicate that the AfD holds second place ahead of the election, boasting around 20% support. However, Alice Weidel, the party’s candidate for chancellor, faces significant hurdles in her quest for leadership, as other political factions are unwilling to collaborate with the AfD.
While most other parties do not advocate for the general deportation of migrants, there is notable public support for more expedited deportations of individuals whose asylum applications have been denied. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his commitment to intensifying the removal of rejected asylum seekers from the country.
Frontex, the EU’s border control agency, recently reported a considerable decrease in illegal border crossings into the European Union during 2024.
In Germany, the number of new asylum seekers dropped sharply, with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees noting that 250,945 individuals sought asylum in 2024, marking a 30.2% decline from the previous year.
Just a year ago, the AfD attempted to distance itself from extremist calls for the “remigration” of millions with immigrant backgrounds, which had sparked extensive protests. Now, the party is openly campaigning for remigration. During a recent convention, Weidel advocated for closing Germany’s borders to undocumented immigration and large-scale deportations of asylum seekers, demonstrating her acceptance of the contentious term.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned AfD’s anti-immigration rhetoric, warning against categorizing Germans into first and second-class citizens based on their heritage. Notably, around 25 million of Germany’s 84 million residents have immigrant backgrounds.
Faeser highlighted that the AfD’s drive for mass expulsions, under the guise of remigration, not only exhibits a lack of compassion but also poses a threat to Germany’s economic stability and job market. Germany is currently experiencing a significant shortage of skilled labor, with estimates indicating that the nation requires approximately 400,000 skilled migrants annually as the workforce continues to age and decline.
Businesses across the country are concerned that the AfD’s anti-immigrant stance may further discourage essential migrants from choosing Germany as a destination for employment.
