Scholz urges German parties to exclude far-right as AfD poised for state election victory

Alternative fur Deutschland leader speaks of historic success' of top place in Thuringia and second in Saxony

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged mainstream parties to exclude right-wing extremists", after preliminary results showed the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) had come top in a state election, while a new populist force on the left established a firm foothold in the country's political landscape

Voters in two closely watched elections in the former communist east made their dissatisfaction with Germany's mainstream political parties clear, putting the AFD in the top spot in Thuringia, with 32.8% of the vote, and second place in Saxony, with 30.6%, according to preliminary results.