Germany's far-right party poised for record election result in snap vote

Germany is preparing for a snap national election on February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition. Polls indicate that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is likely to achieve its highest vote share, potentially placing second. Voter dissatisfaction over issues like immigration and crime has fueled AfD's rise. Recent deadly attacks linked to migrants have increased support for the party, which advocates strict immigration policies and nationalism. Critics, however, warn against its far-right views. Despite its strong polling, the AfD is unlikely to join the government due to a longstanding agreement among mainstream parties to avoid collaboration with it. Recent comments from U.S. officials challenging this stance have sparked controversy in Germany.