Exit polls from regional elections in Germany's eastern region of Thuringia show that the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is on track to claim victory, marking the first time since 1945 that a German far-right party is projected to win. Founded in 2013, AfD is projected to secure 33.5% of the vote, surpassing the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) with 24.5%.
In a closely contested race in Saxony, AfD and CDU are neck and neck according to state broadcaster reports. The newly formed left-wing party, the Sarah Wagenknecht alliance (BSW), is expected to secure third place in both Thuringia and Saxony.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is facing disappointing results in both states, raising concerns for the coalition government. The local election outcomes are viewed as a crucial test for Scholz and his coalition partners ahead of next year's general elections.
AfD's focus on immigration has resonated with voters, with co-chair Alice Weisel hailing the results as a 'historic success' and a rejection of Scholz's coalition government. However, AfD is unlikely to form a regional government due to challenges in finding allies in other parties.
Germany's intelligence agency has classified branches of AfD as suspected right-wing extremist, and the party's top candidate in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, has faced fines for using Nazi slogans. The upcoming regional elections in Brandenburg on September 22 will further shape the political landscape in Germany.
