German Elections Underway Amidst Rise of Far-Right and Concerns Over Turkish Influence

Early elections are being held in Germany today, February 23rd. Polls suggest that Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader of the CDU/CSU bloc, is likely to unseat current Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD. Simultaneously, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to significantly increase its vote share, potentially doubling its parliamentary presence. Concerns are rising about the AfD's anti-immigrant stance and its potential impact on German politics, particularly regarding integration policies and relations with the Turkish community. In Syria, Huda Khayti returned to her hometown of Duma after the fall of the Assad regime. Witnessing the destruction motivated her to dedicate her life to rebuilding Syria by planting flowers and trees in a park in Duma with the support of the Syrian Civil Defense and other organizations. She also plans to open more women's centers in other cities to encourage more women to participate in politics and create an organization to protect the environment.