Political situation in Germany

AFD "ready to govern" - but the CDU excludes all coalitions with the party

The far-right AFD's top name in Thuringia, Björn Höcke - who was convicted of chanting Nazi slogans - hails the party's "historic victory" in the state election in Thuringia. This is reported by DW.

- This fills me with so, so, so much pride and joy, he says and adds:

- We are ready to take responsibility and govern.

How it will turn out remains to be seen - the Christian Democratic CDU, the only party that was reasonably evenly matched in Sunday's state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, completely rules out forming a coalition with the AFD.

According to ZDF's polling station survey, the AFD is the biggest in Thuringia with 33 percent of the support, followed by the CDU with 24 percent. In Saxony it is even - 32 percent for the CDU and 31 for the AFD.

In both states, the four red-green parties SPD, Linke, BSW and the Greens collect between 4 and 16 percent each.

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The far-right AFD is heading towards becoming the largest in state elections

The far-right party AFD becomes the largest party in the German state of Thuringia according to a first polling station survey, German media reports.

The party gets around 33 percent of the vote. Second is the Christian Democratic CDU with 24 percent, followed by the newly formed left-wing populist BSW with 16 percent.

If the forecast holds true, it will be the first time that an extreme right-wing party is the largest in a German state election since the Second World War.

In the state of Saxony, it is very even between the CDU and the AFD, which have 32 and 31 percent respectively.

It is extremely unlikely that any party will want to form a coalition with AFD, AP writes.

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Political situation in Germany
Analysis: AFD played on the East German mentality

AFD's electoral success in the state elections shows how the former East Germany creates its own political identity, writes Philip Oltermann for The Guardian.

"Unlike the established parties, the AFD has not only held campaign meetings, but also organized 'walks' in city centers to mimic the peaceful Monday protests when East Germany fell."

The party played on a unique East German mentality: that you don't make yourself heard through party politics, trade unions or interest groups, but through mass protests in the streets, writes Oltermann.

The AFD is celebrating, but Sunday's results are deeply shocking for many other voters in Thuringia, writes Siobhan Robbins for Sky News.

These voters know that the other parties' pact not to form a coalition with AFD makes it unlikely that the right-wing extremists will take control of the state parliament, she continues.

"But the fact that they received so much support is worrying for many, who fear that the country is headed in a dangerous direction."