
The southern German state of Bavaria is one of the country's most conservative regions, and it has grown in prominence in recent weeks as the CSU - a Bavarian ally of Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) party - pushes for a stricter immigration policy, putting the chancellor's governing coalition at risk.
The rise of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has seen the CSU move further to the right in fear of losing votes in the state's upcoming election.
Al Jazeera's Dominic Kane reports.