AfD expands narrow lead in state election, SPD a close second

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has expanded its narrow lead ahead of state-elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern next week, while the conservatives of Chancellor Friedrich Merz appear on track for their worst-ever showing in a regional vote, according to a new poll.

The anti-immigrant AfD, which sent ripples around the world when it overwhelmingly won last week's state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, is currently polling in first place at 37% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, according to the survey commissioned by broadcaster ZDF and released late on Thursday.

This means the far-right party was able to slightly increase its lead, though the Social Democrats (SPD) of incumbent state premier Manuela Schwesig, polling at 34%, have significantly closed the gap with the AfD over the past months.

Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU), meanwhile, are projected to take 7%, which would be their worst-ever result in any state election in post-war Germany.

It would be another severe blow to Merz and his deeply unpopular coalition government, following the AfD's landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt.

The Left party is polling in third place at 10%, followed by the Greens at 5% - the threshold needed to take seats. The populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which could emerge as kingmaker in Saxony-Anhalt, could potentially fail to enter the state parliament, polling at 4%.

Schwesig unveiled a new election poster this week, as she aims to position her SPD as the only viable force able to stop the AfD from winning another state election.

The poster shows her image next to the slogan: "The woman against blue," referring to the AfD party colours.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is electing its state parliament on September 20, along with the city state of Berlin, where the vote looks likely to be decided in a neck-and-neck race between the CDU, The Left and the AfD.

However, the AfD is unlikely to govern in both Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, as all democratic parties refuse to cooperate with it.