Police have launched a criminal investigation after nearly 30,000 fake “deportation” plane tickets were distributed in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe by a local branch of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
These posters, designed to resemble classic airplane boarding passes, advertise a one-way flight from “Germany” to a “safe country of origin” on February 23 for a traveler named “illegal immigrant” – which is Germany. Is the date of. Immediate federal election.
A spokesman for the AfD in Karlsruhe confirmed that the initiative is part of the party’s local election campaign and said that flyers were being distributed to all eligible voters.
But local politicians from Germany’s Left party said they were found in the mailboxes of Karlsruhe residents with a migration background. Left party officials said they would file charges of spreading hatred.
Sahra Miro, the regional left-wing party chairwoman of Baden-Wurttemberg state, where Karlsruhe is located, said the AfD was “showing its true colors” with the flyer campaign. “They are dividing our society and spreading hatred,” he said.
Karlsruhe’s mayor, Frank Mentrup of the Social Democrats (SPD), also said the AfD had crossed a red line, telling local public broadcaster SWR that “finding such notes in mailboxes reinforces the feeling of insecurity and fear. “
In Berlin on Wednesday, a federal government spokesman called the campaign “tasteless” but said any investigation was the responsibility of the relevant authorities.
AFD ‘migration’ ticket
The “ticket”, which can also be downloaded from the official website of AfD Karlsruhe, displays slogans such as “It’s good at home too” and “Only migration can save Germany”.
“Immigration” is a far-right concept popular in European ethno-nationalist circles that refers to the forced or encouraged deportation of immigrants – and even descendants of immigrants who are born in Europe but move away -Indigenous groups are not recognized as being “ethnically” European – to the home countries of their ancestors.
The concept was the subject of a discussion presented by Austrian identitarian Martin Sellner at a secret meeting of right-wing extremists in Potsdam, near Berlin, in November 2023, which was attended by members of the AfD. News of the meeting triggered nationwide protests against the far right and led to some minor losses in support for the AfD – losses that the party has already largely compensated for.
Net migration to Germany declined
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Feser explained, “The fact that the AfD clearly wants to expel people en masse under the term ’emigration’ not only shows its contempt for humanity, but it also exposes Germany to “How much damage that will do as a business location and the loss of jobs.” rhenish post Newspaper on Wednesday.
He said about 25 million people in Germany – about 30% of the population – have a migration background.
,[Immigrants] They have long been an integral part of our society and run our country in many areas – in hospitals and care homes, in businesses and industry. What these people do deserves more respect,” said SPD member Feser.
Meanwhile, the latest report from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) said net migration to Germany fell by almost 55% in 2023, while asylum applications in 2024 were down a little more than 30% compared to 2023.
The number of irregular crossings at the EU’s external borders also fell significantly in 2024, according to Frontex, the bloc’s border control agency.
Nevertheless, the AfD remains in second place behind the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) in surveys conducted ahead of the February election.
However, there is little chance of the AfD’s Alice Weidel becoming Chancellor or entering a government because no democratic party has said it would be willing to form a coalition with the AfD. The party’s three regional branches, although not in Baden-Württemberg, are classified as “right-wing extremist” by the domestic intelligence agency.
MF/SMS (AP, DPA)
