AFD LEADS BY WIDE MARGIN IN SAXONY-ANHALT ELECTION

BERLIN, SEPTEMBER 6 /SRNA/ — The Alternative for Germany /AfD/ is heading for a decisive victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, securing 44 per cent of the vote in exit polls published by broadcasters ARD and ZDF.

The conservative Christian Democratic Union /CDU/ is in second place with 18.5 per cent.

AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund said the party would reach out to all political forces willing to pursue what he described as better policies.

"We are extending our hand to all democratic forces that want to pursue better policies," Siegmund said after the exit poll results were released.

He stressed that issues such as migration and domestic security would not be subject to negotiations.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said the party had received a clear mandate to govern following the Saxony-Anhalt election and would hold talks with all parties.

The CDU's lead candidate in the state election congratulated the AfD on its victory.

The exit polls showed that three left-wing parties - The Left, the Greens and the Social Democratic Party /SPD/ - also cleared the five per cent electoral threshold.

The first partial results are expected shortly.