Social Democrats fend off AfD in crucial German state election, according to exit polls

The German chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats have managed to fend off the far-right Alternative für Deutschland in a state election in Brandenburg after trailing behind the party throughout the campaign, according to exit polls.

The Social Democrats (SPD), who have governed the state surrounding Berlin since reunification in 1990, scored 32% of the vote, ahead of the AfD on 29%, in a last-minute comeback, according to the exit poll by the broadcaster ZDF.

The success for the SPD could give Scholz a slight reprieve from party discussions about his suitability to be the party's chancellor candidate again for next year's federal elections.

It is unlikely, however, to give him or the party a major boost given the popular, incumbent SPD premier, Dietmar Woidke, had distanced himself from Scholz during the campaign and criticised the federal government's policies.

More details soon ...