Scholz's Party Narrowly Leads Far-right AfD In East German State Vote: Exit Polls

Brandenburg's state premier Dietmar Woidke from the SPD, seen here casting his ballot, has vowed to resign if the AfD wins (Credit: AFP)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats were narrowly ahead of the far-right AfD Sunday in a state election in the formerly communist east, according to exit polls.

Scholz's centre-left SPD won 31 to 32 percent of the vote, a slight lead over the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, which scored 29 to 30 percent according to exit polls by the two main public broadcasters.