Scholz's Social Democrats fend off far-right in German state vote

Brandenburg state premier and top candidate of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) Dietmar Woidke speaks after first exit polls of the Brandenburg state election in Potsdam, Germany, September 22, 2024. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) managed to fend off the far-right AfD in a state election in Brandenburg on Sunday after trailing behind the party throughout the campaign, according to exit polls.

The SPD, which has governed the state surrounding the capital Berlin since reunification in 1990, scored 32% of the vote, ahead of the Alternative for Germany on 29%, in a last minute comeback, according to the exit poll by broadcaster ZDF.