Social Democrats Edge Far-Right in Crucial Brandenburg Election

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats narrowly defeated the far-right Alternative for Germany in the eastern state of Brandenburg. Despite success, the party's win was attributed largely to Dietmar Woidke, the state governor. The election results have wider implications for Scholz's political future and Germany's political climate.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats clinched a narrow victory in Brandenburg's state election, narrowly surpassing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), as per the official vote count.

Final results revealed the Social Democrats garnered 30.9% of the vote, while the AfD secured 29.2%. This vote follows the far right's recent gains in two other eastern German states.

Despite this success, the achievement is largely credited to the popular state governor Dietmar Woidke, who distanced himself from Scholz during the campaign. He promised to resign if the far-right prevailed. This win has significant implications for Scholz's political future, especially with upcoming federal elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)