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The populist party has demanded the closure of the nation’s borders, restriction of Islamic practices and promised to fight against the “oligarchy” in its election programme. In their manifesto, the AfD wrote: "The expatriation of criminal migrants should be possible: firstly, in cases of serious criminality within ten years of naturalisation.

GETTY The AfD has pledged to reduce net migration into Germany

“Secondly, for migrants in terrorist organisations (for example, ISIS); thirdly when belonging to criminal clans, even if the deportees thereby become stateless.” The measures would only apply to first generation migrants who had managed to obtain German citizenship after arrival, the party confirmed. Currently poling at around 11 per cent, the AfD is expected to swoop its first MPs following the election later this year.

GETTY Germany has seen a wave of protests regarding Merkel's open door migrant policy

Islam is not part of Germany AfD

The party believes that “Islam is not part of German” – despite 4.5million Muslims living in the country. The group claimed that Germany is “losing its cultural identity because of a flawed notion of tolerance” and that they “want to pass on to coming generations a country that is still recognisable as our Germany”. Founded in 2013, the Eurosceptic group has also denounced all mainstream political parties in Germany for abandoning ordinary voters. The party added that it wants to “end of the euro experiment” and return to sovereign national governments.

Merkel's plea for Tusk Thu, March 9, 2017 Merkel, who spoke ahead of a EU summit in Brussels, said the planned re-election of Poland's Donald Tusk as president of the European Union is a "sign of stability" for the bloc, despite bitter opposition from Warsaw Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 7 French President Francois Hollande speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the second day of a European Summit at the Europa Building at the EU headquarters in Brussels

GETTY Franke Petry, leader of AfD, has seen membership in the party rise