Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition was punished in two regional elections in eastern Germany on Sunday, with populist parties on the extreme right and left winning about half the votes in both Thuringia and Saxony.

The Alternative for Germany is on course for victory in Thuringia on 30.5%, according to projections Sunday for public broadcaster ARD. It represents the first triumph for a far-right party in a German state ballot since World War II, even if it’s highly unlikely to be able to form a government.

The results deal another bitter blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his deeply unpopular government{ai:summary}<p>Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition faced significant losses in recent regional elections in eastern Germany, with populist parties on the far right and left garnering nearly half the votes. The Alternative for Germany party is projected to win approximately 30.5% in Thuringia.  </p><p>This marks a milestone as the far-right party achieves a victory in a German state ballot for the first time since World War II, although forming a government remains improbable. #politics</p>

Populist surge crushes ruling coalition in Germany

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