On a wet evening in Suhl, in the former East Germany, a smattering of youthful faces were among hundreds lining up to hear from an unlikely idol - Björn Höcke, one of the most controversial figures in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Alternative for Germany appears to be heading for its strongest national election result yet this month and has become a factor that can’t be ignored.

NEU-ISENBURG, Germany (Reuters) - "Alice fuer Deutschland" (Alice for Germany) chanted supporters as far-right leader Alice Weidel addressed an election rally outside Germany's financial centre Frankfurt,

Austrian authorities are investigating the flow of money behind a large donation made to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to support its German election campaign, according to a joint investigation by the newspapers Spiegel and Standard.

Germany's far-right party, Alternative for Germany, has seen gains in popularity in recent years — Jan Techau, a director on Eurasia Group's Europe team, discusses.

Germany's Ruhr area used to be a Social Democrat stronghold, but the populist AfD has risen to popularity amid the region's economic decline. In one city— Gelsenkirchen— individuals are resisting the trend.

In recent years, far-right political movements have gained traction across Europe. Parties that once existed on the fringes are now entering mainstream debates and, in some cases, influencing policy.