1000x563 cmsv2 371ef784 7bc4 5e36 abf3 e15b9c7d32b8 7706748

The populist far-right party has won its first seat in a district council election in Sonneberg. This is despite representatives of the SPD, Greens, FDP and other parties calling for support for his opponent.

Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has won its first district election. It’s a further boost to the anti-immigration party as it surges to record highs in opinion polls.

Robert Sesselmann, a lawyer and regional lawmaker, came out on top against incumbent Jürgen Köpper of the centre-right Christian Democrat Party (CDU )in a runoff election in Sonneberg county.

Sesselmann took 52.8% of the vote in the second round run-off.

Sonneberg is located in Thuringia, one of three eastern regions that holds state elections next year.

The AfD in Thuringia has been classified as a right-wing extremist by the state’s domestic intelligence agency and is under surveillance.

In recent polls, the AfD has been on the rise nationwide, but especially in the eastern German states.

Source