Monday briefing: Why Germany’s far right AfD is thriving despite scandal

In today’s newsletter: Politicians from Germany’s rightwing AfD party have been exposed for plotting with extremists – but will they be banned, or could it see support rise?

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Good morning. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party now polls above 20% in Germany – and it is showing no signs of going away. Earlier this month, a story emerged that you might have expected to deal a hammer blow to its popularity: AfD politicians met with rightwing extremists and neo-Nazi activists to discuss a “masterplan” for mass deportations.

Mainstream political leaders condemned the AfD, and tens of thousands marched in protest across Germany for seven nights in a row. Yesterday, Philip Oltermann and Kate Connolly reported for the Observer that theatregoers attending a staged reading of the original report in Berlin chanted “Everyone, together, against fascism” for 10 minutes when it ended. Despite all of this the AfD’s support appears to be unaffected. The party is on track to win three major state elections in the east of Germany during 2024.

Israel-Gaza war | Hamas has said Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of its conditions means there is “no chance for the return of the [Israeli] captives”, estimated to be 130 in number. The Israeli PM dismissed the militant group’s conditions, which he said included leaving Hamas in power and Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza.

US news | Ron DeSantis, the hard-right governor of Florida, has ended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and endorsed Donald Trump. DeSantis’s withdrawal in the days ahead of the New Hampshire primary followed a disappointing result in the Iowa caucus, where he finished second place but well behind Donald Trump.

Health | A national campaign to boost uptake of a vaccine that protects against measles has been launched in England after a rise in cases of the potentially deadly disease. Measles outbreaks have occurred around the country, including in London, with the West Midlands experiencing cases at their highest level since the mid-1990s.

Weather | Storm warnings have been issued across parts of Britain as Storm Isha takes hold, with potentially life-threatening gusts and travel disruption expected into Monday.

Brexit | The UK’s fruit and flower growers face an “existential threat” from new post-Brexit border checks that could damage business and affect next year’s crops, the country’s biggest farming body has said.