Germany’s far-Right AfD party set for big win in state election, exit polls show

GERMANY’s far-right party is set to win a historic landslide in a state election, exit polls show. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is projected gain a whopping 44.5 per cent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt. AfD leaders celebrate the exit poll win Credit: Getty The ultra conservative party soared past German Chancellor Frierich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who are set to take just 18.5 per cent. The AfD – who have faced probes and accusations by Berlin for right-wing extremism – need to reach 50 per cent to control the state parliament. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! If they don’t manage the threshold, it could force several mainstream parties – who have balked at the idea of the AfD in power – to make a coalition with them. The AfD wants closer ties with Vladimir Putin’s Russia and a hardline approach to immigration. The party’s co-leader Alice Weidel hailed it as a “historic” result which had given the AfD a clear mandate to govern. The projected results mark a political earthquake in Germany – no far-right party has won control of a state in the nation since World War Two. Should they gain full control of local authorities, they will have power over policing, education and culture. Saxony-Anhalt, which has a population of 2.1 million, and its AfD officials have been called “far-right extremist” by German intelligence. Most read in The Sun The party rejects this label. Germany’s history with Nazism has fuelled fears of a rising far-right party, and prompted establishment groups to shy away from cooperation. Some parties have outright refused to form coaltions with the AfD – a policy known as the “firewall”. Sunday’s result also marks another blow to Merz – with the German leader’s popularity seeing sharp declines since the beginning of his tenure. The AfD is now Germany’s most popular party nationally. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun. Comment now