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Like much of the world, Europe continues to face varied challenges. Issues like illegal immigration, crime, and lack of access to critical resources certainly make the top of the list.

Across EU nations, different leaders and political parties have mixed thoughts on the necessary solutions to employ as a means of solving the aforementioned problems.

Of course, some countries remain more united than others. The same also applies to political organizations throughout Europe.

In the case of Germany, one group gaining attention is none other than the Alternative For Germany (AfD) Party. Alternative For Germany has earned a reputation as a far-right, populist group with sympathetic tendencies towards fascism and Russia, hence prompting concerns throughout Europe.

Here's what's going on

In Germany and the rest of the EU, some officials fear that hardships will empower AfD and make people who would otherwise tune out the party's rhetoric become more amenable to it.

So far, a Politico poll indicates that AfD has seen an uptick to 21% support within the past 12 months. This now makes them the runner-up behind Germany's Christian Democrats, a moderately right-leaning political group.

Clashes between other political organizations in Germany, coupled with certain challenges pertaining to immigration in Europe, also remain widely credited for the documented rise of AfD.

Another factor at work is the rise of crime happening in Germany. Thus far, reports confirm a 22% acclivity in lawlessness since 2022. Data from law enforcement consequently shows a correlation between immigration growth and the uptick in crime.

While foreign inhabitants of Germany account for about 16% of the country's population, they're also credited for roughly 33.3% of 2022's persons of interest involving crime.

Unlike other center-right and right-leaning European political parties, AfD has consistently adopted increasingly radical talking points and policies, while rejecting the notion of trying to appeal to more moderate or centrist voters.

Stay tuned

The issues facing Germany and the rest of the EU will continue to play a role in whether or not AfD's messages resonate with more voters.

If other leaders and parties in Germany fail to execute effective solutions to fix problems like crime, then AfD may continue to increase in popularity.