German far-right set to win first state poll since WW2

Alternative for Germany (AfD) was on track Sunday to become the first far-right party to win a regional election in Germany since World War II, projections showed, but was almost certain to be excluded from power by rival parties. AfD was set to win 33.1% of the vote in Thuringia, comfortably ahead of conservatives' 24.3%, broadcaster ZDF projected. In neighbouring Saxony, conservatives led on 31.9%, around half a percentage point ahead of AfD.

With a year to go until Germany's national election, the results look punishing for Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition. All three parties lost votes, with junior partners, Greens and Free Democrats, on the cusp of missing the 5% threshold needed to stay in parliament.

The campaign's final week was overshadowed by the killing of three people at a festival in the city of Solingen in a knife attack, allegedly by an illegally resident Syrian national whom authorities had failed to deport. The anti-immigration AfD may have drawn momentum from the tragedy.

The left populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which like AfD wants less immigration and an end to arming Ukraine, came third in both states just eight months after its founding.

With all parties having ruled out working with AfD, BSW could be crucial to forming a stable govt in the two states, which lag western Germany economically more than three decades after reunification. reuters


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