Divided far-right AfD loses ground in east German stronghold

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) spokesperson Tino Chrupalla, chairman of state of Saxony-Anhalt, Martin Reichardt and top candidate for Saxony-Anhalt Oliver Kirchner depart after a news conference following the state election, in Berlin, Germany, June 7, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/Pool

BERLIN (Reuters) - The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) tried on Monday to put a brave face on election losses in an eastern stronghold where its anti-immigration line failed to chime with voters' concerns.

After polling neck-and-neck with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU in Saxony-Anhalt for weeks, the AfD on the day won just 20.8%, more than 16 points behind the CDU and 3.5 points down from the previous election in 2016.