Far-right AfD wins key German state election but may fail to secure majority

Exit poll shows Alternative für Deutschland on 44.4% of vote in Saxony-Anhalt after huge turnout, with votes still being counted

The populist far-right, anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland has emerged as the winner in a crucial state election in Germany, exit polls have projected, securing a historic result and more than doubling its support, and appearing to be on the brink of becoming the first far-right party to gain power at state level since the second world war.

Initial exit polls showed the party to have secured 44.4% of the vote, ahead of predictions and decisively ahead of the Christian Democrats (CDU) of the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, in a contest that was being followed across the world. However, it still remains unclear as to how and whether it will be able to form a government, having ruled out entering a coalition, and being refused any form of cooperation by the mainstream parties.