The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party faces backlash after distributing campaign flyers resembling “deportation tickets” in Karlsruhe.

Karlsruhe police are investigating the flyers for potentially inciting racial hatred ahead of the February 23 election. Styled as airline tickets, the flyers display the AfD logo alongside manipulated details such as “departure: Germany” and “destination: safe country of origin.” Additional messages include “Only remigration can save Germany” and “It’s nice at home too.”

Complaints have poured in from the public and members of the Left party, who accused the flyers of stoking xenophobia. They claimed the AfD deliberately targeted mailboxes of people with migration backgrounds, aiming to create division and spread hatred.

The AfD’s Baden-Württemberg branch defended the flyers, stating they targeted all eligible voters, particularly in Karlsruhe. Despite their explanation, police have confirmed an ongoing investigation.

Historical Parallels and Denials

German media noted the campaign’s similarity to a 2013 effort by the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), now rebranded as Heimat. The NPD distributed fake flight tickets reading “From Germany — destination home” to discourage immigrants from running for parliament. That campaign sparked national outrage, branded as “xenophobic propaganda,” and contributed to the NPD losing state funding and tax benefits.

AfD politician Marc Bernhard denied any connection to the NPD campaign, telling local media: “We categorically reject links to the NPD’s actions, which occurred more than a decade ago and are unknown to us.”

Despite Bernhard’s denial, the AfD’s recent actions align with its immigration policies. At the party’s weekend conference in Riesa, chancellor candidate Alice Weidel embraced the term “remigration,” a strategy commonly associated with mass deportations of migrants.

“Remigration” and Its Implications

“Remigration” is a controversial term often interpreted as the large-scale deportation of individuals with migrant backgrounds, though it remains unclear if it includes those with legal residency rights.

Weidel’s endorsement marks a significant shift from her stance a year ago when she distanced herself from the term. Protests erupted then after a senior AfD member reportedly met Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner to discuss deporting legally residing foreigners and “non-assimilated” citizens.

The concept of remigration has also gained traction in Austria, where hard-right politician Herbert Kickl recently won elections and was invited to lead coalition talks.

Polls and Political Isolation

According to the latest INSA poll, the AfD holds second place nationally with 22% of the vote. Despite its popularity, other parties, including the leading Christian Democratic Union (CDU), have ruled out coalitions with the AfD. Without a significant political shift, the AfD’s chances of entering government remain slim.