Germany's far-right AfD wins vote to lead district for first time

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party sing the national anthem during a protest against the government, amid skyrocketing energy prices, in Berlin, Germany, October 8, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Mang

BERLIN (Reuters) -A far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote on Sunday to become a district leader in Europe's biggest economy for the first time, a breakthrough for the party which has hit record highs in national polls.

The 10-year old AfD, with which Germany's mainstream parties officially refuse to cooperate due to its radical views, won a run-off vote in the Sonneberg district in the eastern state of Thuringia with its candidate garnering 52.8% of the vote.