Far right takes the lead in ThuringiaThe far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has taken the lead in the first exit polls in Thuringia.Thuringia ZDF exit pollAlternative für Deutschland (AfD): 33.5%Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 24.5%Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW): 14.5%Die Linke: 11.5%Social Democratic party (SPD): 6.5%THÜRINGEN | 18 Uhr Prognose Landtagswahl Forschungsgruppe Wahlen/ZDFAfD: 33,5% (+10,1)CDU: 24,5% (+2,8)BSW: 14,5% (NEU)LINKE: 11,5% (-19,5)SPD: 6,5% (-1,7)GRÜNE: 4,0% (-1,2)FDP: 1,0% (-4,0)Sonstige: 4,5% (-1,0)Änderungen zu 2019#ltwth pic.twitter.com/LwdDwsBrhM— Deutschland Wählt (@Wahlen_DE) September 1, 2024ShareUpdated at 18.19 CESTKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureSummary of the day

Voters went to the polls in two closely watched state elections in eastern Germany.

A far-right party became the biggest force in a German state parliament for the first time since the second world war, exit polls showed.

Exit polls put the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in the lead in Thuringia, and second place in Saxony.

Alice Weidel, the AfD’s co-leader, said: “It is a historic success for us. It is the first time we have become the strongest force in a state election. It is a requiem for this coalition [in Berlin].”

The leftwing but socially conservative Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance is set to come in third place in both states, and could prove key in talks on forming governments.

The results in Saxony and Thuringia proved disastrous for the three ruling parties in chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left-led federal government.
Read more here.ShareUpdated at 20.11 CESTAnd the updated ZDF exit poll for Saxony:Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 31.7%Alternative für Deutschland (AfD): 31.4%Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW): 11.5%Social Democratic party (SPD): 7.5%ShareHere’s the updated Thuringia ZDF exit poll:Alternative für Deutschland (AfD): 33.2%Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 23.9%Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW): 15.6%Die Linke: 11.4%Social Democratic party (SPD): 6.1%ShareOmid Nouripour, a leader of the Greens, has said that “an openly right-wing extremist party has become the strongest force in a state parliament for the first time since 1949, and that causes many people very deep concern and fear,” the Associated Press reported.ShareThe Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) said that the state elections’ outcome shows people want change.Nach diesen starken Ergebnissen ist klar: Die Menschen wollen Veränderung. Wir werden in Thüringen und Sachsen nur für Koalitionen zur Verfügung stehen, wenn es deutliche Verbesserung für die Bürger bedeutet. Ein “Weiter so” wird es mit uns auf keinen Fall geben! pic.twitter.com/ZwmL9jjku5— Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (@Buendnis_SahraW) September 1, 2024

ShareThe CDU has thanked voters and campaigners.ShareHere’s a take from academic Cas Mudde.ShareThe Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Thuringia said it will seek talks to explore the possibility of forming a state government, reiterating that there will be no cooperation with the AfD.Die erste Hochrechnung bestätigt die Prognose – Die CDU legt zu und geht sicher als Zweiter durchs Ziel! 🙌Rot-Rot-Grün ist abgewählt! Wir danken allen Wählern, Helfern und Unterstützern im Land und aus ganz Deutschland! 🙏🏻Wir werden Gespräche suchen, um die… pic.twitter.com/Kc8QDcN2fG— CDU Thüringen (@cdu_thueringen) September 1, 2024

ShareFar right becomes biggest force in German state for first time since WWIIDeborah ColeA far-right party became the biggest force in a German state parliament for the first time since the second world war in one of two closely watched elections on Sunday, exit polls showed, while a separate new populist force on the left established a firm foothold in the country’s political landscape.Voters in the ex-communist east made their dissatisfaction with Germany’s mainstream political parties deafeningly clear, putting the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in the top spot in Thuringia with between 30.5 and 33.5% of the vote, and second place in Saxony with 30-31.5%, according to exit polls.“It is a historic success for us. It is the first time we have become the strongest force in a state election,” a triumphant Alice Weidel, the AfD’s co-leader, said. “It is a requiem for this coalition (in Berlin).”The results in Saxony and Thuringia proved disastrous for the three ruling parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left-led federal government, with each scoring in the single digits in both states one year before Germany holds its next general election.Although the outcome had been predicted for months, the centrist parties proved powerless over the course of the year to reverse the trend and the results sent shock waves through the political landscape.Read the full story here.ShareUpdated at 19.43 CESTBSW’s Fabio De Masi has called the new party’s performance “historic,” calling for new federal elections.Das BSW hat in Thüringen und Sachsen abgeliefert. Von 0 auf Zweistellig trotz Kanonenfeuer aus Politik und Medien ist historisch! Jetzt gilt es etwas herauszuholen. Die Ampel hat keine Legitimation mehr! Es braucht Neuwahlen!— Fabio De Masi 🦩 (@FabioDeMasi) September 1, 2024

ShareThe far right AfD has thanked its voters and campaigners.ShareAnd here are the exit polls from ARD.ThuringiaAlternative für Deutschland (AfD): 30.5%Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 24.5%Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW): 16%Die Linke: 12.5%THÜRINGEN | 18 Uhr Prognose Landtagswahl Infratest dimap/ARDAfD: 30,5% (+7,1)CDU: 24,5% (+2,8)BSW: 16,0% (NEU)LINKE: 12,5% (-18,5)SPD: 7,0% (-1,2)GRÜNE: 4,0% (-1,2)FDP: 1,3% (-3,7)Sonstige: 4,2% (-1,3)Änderungen zum Wahlergebnis von 2019#ltwth pic.twitter.com/R3jq44JqsH— Deutschland Wählt (@Wahlen_DE) September 1, 2024SaxonyChristian Democratic Union (CDU): 31.5%Alternative für Deutschland (AfD): 30%Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW): 12%Social Democratic party (SPD): 8.5%SACHSEN | 18 Uhr Prognose Landtagswahl Infratest dimap/ARDCDU: 31,5% (-0,6)AfD: 30,0% (+2,5)BSW: 12,0% (NEU)SPD: 8,5% (+0,8)GRÜNE: 5,5% (-3,1)LINKE: 4,0% (-6,4)Sonstige: 8,5% (-5,2)Änderungen zum Wahlergebnis von 2019#ltwsn pic.twitter.com/hcMBULZE1u— Deutschland Wählt (@Wahlen_DE) September 1, 2024

ShareUpdated at 18.15 CEST