A former EU official is accused of suggesting the European Union could try to annul Germany’s election results if the right-wing party wins.

During a party conference Alice Weidel publicly endorsed the mass "return" or deportation of people with a migrant background.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party sent "deportation tickets" for "illegal immigrants" to mailboxes around the city of Karlsruhe, a local AfD official confirmed to dpa on Tuesday. Police in the western city have launched an investigation into the campaign stunt on suspicion of incitement to hatred.

Germany's AfD party has unveiled plans for a complete border shutdown and mass deportations if successful in next month's election. The party, currently polling at its highest-ever national level of 22 percent,