Scholz’s Social Democrats hold back the far right in German state vote

Associated Press

POTSDAM, Germany (AP) — The Social Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Scholz have won an election in the eastern German state of Brandenburg. They gained a narrow edge over a growing far-right party. The vote on Sunday took place three weeks after the far right made gains in two other states in eastern Germany. The first-place showing for the Social Democrats brought a reprieve to the beleaguered Scholz, whose three-party governing coalition has fared poorly in elections so far this year. The far-right party has gained support amid a growing backlash to large-scale migration to Germany over the past decade and recent extremist attacks. Germany’s economy, once a powerhouse, has been weakening, adding to a general feeling of malaise.