SPD Narrowly Defeats Far-Right AfD in Brandenburg Election Amid Leadership Scrutiny

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD narrowly defeated the far-right AfD in Brandenburg's regional election amid mounting internal criticism. Despite the victory, the SPD faces ongoing debates about Scholz's leadership as the AfD gains ground fueled by concerns over economic issues, immigration, and the Ukraine conflict.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) narrowly defeated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a regional election in Brandenburg on Sunday. The victory comes amid growing internal criticism and leadership debates within the SPD.

The SPD, which has ruled Brandenburg since reunification in 1990, won 30.9% of the vote, narrowly beating the AfD's 29.2%, according to provisional results. Despite their win, the AfD gained 5.7 percentage points compared to the previous election, capitalizing on economic and immigration concerns.

Brandenburg's SPD premier Dietmar Woidke avoided campaigning with Scholz, reflecting his unpopularity even within the party. Woidke stressed the need for the SPD to reconnect with voters. Meanwhile, internal pressure mounts for Scholz to step aside as the party polls drop nationwide.

(With inputs from agencies.)