Germany's Scholz campaigns in Brandenburg ahead of key state election

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday campaigned for his Social Democratic Party (SPD) ahead of key elections in the eastern state of Brandenburg.

"For me, it is very important that Brandenburg continues to progress in the future," Scholz told dpa on a visit to a film museum in the state capital of Postdam, near Berlin.

Brandenburg is currently governed by the SPD under Premier Dietmar Woidke, but Scholz's party is neck-and-neck with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in polls before Sunday's vote.

However, Scholz is hoping that the SPD can retain its hold on the state, pointing to its strong economic growth in recent years.

"The state has enormous economic growth - and that has a lot to do with Dietmar Woidke," the chancellor said.

Scholz called his colleague a "first-class premier" and said the state's residents, including himself, want Woidke "to remain as head of government in Brandenburg."

The chancellor also said that he has already sent in his postal vote, as he is due to attend a United Nations summit in New York on Sunday.

Woidke had previously stated that he would resign if the SPD does not win the election in Brandenburg, but polls suggest the party is in a tight race with the AfD.

A survey released on Thursday by public broadcaster ZDF shows the AfD on 28%, just ahead of the SPD on 27%.

The Brandenburg SPD is thus far ahead of the national party, which has been languishing in the polls due to the struggles of Germany's SPD-led coalition government.

Woidke has largely avoided campaign appearances with Scholz, seeking to disassociate himself from the unpopular chancellor.