Germany dodges a historic second far-right win in a state election

Germany looks set to narrowly avoid having a far-right party as the strongest force in a second state on Sunday, just weeks the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the first far-right party in post-war history to win an election.

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The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) appear headed for a narrow election victory over the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, according to preliminary results.

Early figures point to a remarkable showing for Brandenburg’s incumbent SPD premier, Dietmar Woidke, who has led the state for 11 years and appears set to claim another term. Opinion polls weeks ahead of the vote showed the SPD trailing the AfD by as many as six percentage points.

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The SPD has ruled in Brandenburg since 1990, when the first democratic elections were held in the state following the collapse of the communist regime in the former East Germany.

Bjoern Hoecke, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia, at the AfD election party following the Brandenburg state elections on Sunday. Photo: dpa
Bjoern Hoecke, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia, at the AfD election party following the Brandenburg state elections on Sunday. Photo: dpa