By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) – A partner of Italy’s coalition government on Tuesday urged Italians living in Germany to vote for Christian Democrats.
Forza Italia (FI), led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, said on X: "FI calls on all Italians living in Germany to support the (Christian Democratic Union- Christian Social Union) CDU-CSU in the parliamentary elections on February 23.
"The mobilization of FI members and activists has begun to support Friedrich Merz and our friends from the CDU-CSU for the common values of the (European People’s Party) EPP," added the party.
As Germany approaches early elections on Feb. 23, right-wing and populist parties have made immigration their central campaign issue.
A YouGov poll released on Wednesday showed the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could get 21% of intended votes, positioning it as the second-strongest party behind the conservative CDU/CSU bloc at 30%.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) was polled at 18%, with the Greens following at 14%.