Scholz’s Social Democrats ahead of far right in German state election, exit polls signal

WANDLITZ, Germany — Embattled German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared to have earned a reprieve on Sunday as exit polls signaled that his party held off a strong challenge from the far right to win a key regional election in the eastern state of Brandenburg.

Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) finished first with 31 percent, according to the exit polls for German public television, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 30 percent. The center-right Christian Democrats garnered 12 percent.

A loss in Brandenburg, which the SPD has controlled since German reunifcation, would have cast doubt on Scholz’s political future and increased pressure for a snap national election after his party suffered crushing defeats in two previous state elections this month.