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Clean elections

German state leader vows to thwart second AfD victory within two weeks

Germany is waiting with bated breath to see the outcome of elections in the former eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern following a dramatic win for the far-right in Saxony-Anhalt.

Schwesig also reiterated that she would not cooperate with the AfD, in line with the policy maintained by Germany's mainstream parties known as the "firewall" to keep the far right from power. (Photo: Philip Dulian)
Schwesig also reiterated that she would not cooperate with the AfD, in line with the policy maintained by Germany's mainstream parties known as the "firewall" to keep the far right from power. (Photo: Philip Dulian)

Rostock (dpa)  - Incumbent state premier Manuela Schwesig on Monday stressed that it was worth fighting to prevent another far-right victory in upcoming elections in the north-eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Sunday's vote will come two weeks after the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a landslide win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling just short of an absolute majority.

Latest polling also has the AfD in first place in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern at around 37% of the vote, though Schwesig's Social Democrats (SPD) are not far behind at 34%, having managed to close the gap with the far-right party in recent weeks.

Speaking to foreign journalists in the port city of Rostock, Schwesig, who has governed Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 2017, stressed that "it does matter whether a second state falls to the AfD or not."

"It also matters for Germany," Schwesig said, noting that the country's 16 federal states play a key role when it comes to national policy.

Schwesig also reiterated that she would not cooperate with the AfD, in line with the policy maintained by Germany's mainstream parties known as the "firewall" to keep the far right from power.

Unlike her party, which is struggling with declining support nationwide, Schwesig enjoys high approval ratings at home, and she is considered to have a good chance of beating the AfD in the vote on September 20.

Under her leadership, child care for pre-school-aged children has become free in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the state has seen stronger economic growth over the past five years than the country as a whole, according to official figures, even though the sparsely populated rural region lacks major industry.