German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD party narrowly beat the far-right Alternative for Germany in the Brandenburg election, which was seen as a referendum for him.

Voters in the state of Brandenburg, surrounding Berlin, go to the polls on Sunday with all eyes on whether the far right will gain the most support - for the second time in a month - or whether the Social Democrats (SPD) will come out on top.

The narrow win by Olaf Scholz’s party came in a state election, the third in a series that was seen as a reflection of the national mood and a snapshot of the government’s popularity.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats will seek coalition talks with upstart left party BSW, as working with the far-right runner-up AfD has been ruled out. Follow DW for more.

Following AfD’s victory in Thuringia, race in one of smallest German states in terms of population becomes focus of attention

Germans in the state of Brandenburg were voting in a regional election on Sunday with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) expected to finish first, building on successes in other eastern states and beating Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats in one of their traditional strongholds.

The ruling SPD has just scraped by in a critical electoral test, but a closer look at the numbers show trouble for next year's elections.

By Sarah Marsh BERLIN (Reuters) -Polls opened on Sunday in the German state of Brandenburg, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to finish first, aiming to build on recent successes in other eastern states and surpass Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats in this traditional stronghold.

The results will come as a relief to the party of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which is set to finish first and gain seats.