"Bavaria Election: Populist Surge Expected as Toxic Campaign Grips Germany"

Voters in Bavaria, Germany's largest state, are heading to the polls in a toxic election campaign marked by populist upstarts challenging the status quo. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is hoping for a strong result, claiming to be physically attacked or threatened, while their opponents accuse them of twisting the truth for political gain. The Greens are also facing hostility from right-wing groups. The elections in Bavaria and Hesse are seen as a mid-term test for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government, with a quarter of German voters eligible to vote. The rise of populist insurgents suggests that German politics is becoming more fragmented and fractious.