Far-right AfD posts historic German state election win, exit polls show

BERLIN - The far-right Alternative for Germany scored a historic victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, exit polls showed on Sept 6, dealing a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives, but it was unclear whether the result would be enough to govern.The AfD won 44.5 per cent of the vote, according to exit polls of ARD broadcaster, up from 20.8 per cent in 2021.Merz’s CDU fell to 18.5 per cent from 37.1 per cent in 2021, a setback in a state the conservatives have governed since 2002.Most parties have ruled out joining an AfD-led coalition, meaning the party would likely need a majority of seats to take power. REUTERS