Nerves rise over AfD threat as state elections in eastern Germany begin

With voters rejecting mainstream politics, many expect a disastrous results outcome for Olaf Scholz's coalition

Voters in two eastern German states are about to go to the polls in elections that could see the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party score its first wins at the regional level and a separate new populist force on the left establish a firm foothold.

The results in Saxony and Thuringia, due on Sunday evening, are expected to be disastrous for the three ruling parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left-led coalition government in Berlin, one year before Germany holds its next general election.