A far-right party has won a regional election in Germany for the first time since the Second World War.
Alternative for Germany (AfD), founded in 2013 with an anti-migration and eurosceptic agenda, picked up the most votes in the eastern state of Thuringia.
The party won 32.8% of the vote, followed by mainstream conservatives the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 23.6%.
It is the first time a far-right party has won the most seats in a German state parliament since the Second World War.
But AfD is almost certain to be excluded from power by rival parties.
AfD also performed well in the neighbouring state of Saxony, where it was a close second behind the CDU by just half a percentage point, a ZDF exit poll said.
The CDU, which has governed Saxony since German reunification more than 30 years ago and is the main opposition party at national level, appeared set to secure 32% of the vote in the state.
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But the AfD was narrowly behind with 31.5% on Sunday, according to the poll.
Speaking after the results, AfD’s leader in Thuringia Bjorn Hocke said he felt “a great, great deal of pride”.
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However, when it was pointed out that Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has his local party branch under official surveillance as a “proven right-wing extremist” group, he bristled at the question and said: “Please stop stigmatising me. We are the number one party in Thuringia.
“You don’t want to classify one-third of the voters in Thuringia as right-wing extremists.”
Hocke himself has been convicted of knowingly using a Nazi slogan at political events – he is appealing.
Celebration and devastation after state elections
The exit polls predicting the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has won the most seats in Thuringia’s state parliament sparked both celebration and devastation.
Huge cheers erupted from the pub where the party faithful were holding their watch party.
The news they were coming a close second in neighbouring Saxony will have buoyed them further.
If the win in Thuringia is confirmed, this will be the first time since World War Two that a far-right party has the most seats in a German state parliament.
Anti-immigration, populist messages of “Germany first” appealed to many voters in the former communist east where numerous people told me they feel forgotten or disconnected from the national government.
But other residents who were casting their votes in Erfurt on Sunday were deeply unnerved by the idea that the far-right might seize victory.
They know that a pact by other parties not to go into coalition with the AfD means it is unlikely to get full control of Thuringia’s parliament but the fact it has won such a huge slice of support is disturbing to some who fear Germany is stepping in a dangerous direction.
The AfD in Thuringia is being monitored by state intelligence authorities as “extremist”, and their top candidate, Bjorn Hocke, was this year found guilty of using a banned Nazi slogan – yet it appears one in three voters still backed them.
That has disturbed some Germans, as voter David warned: “In our history, we have had national socialist movement in 1933 in Weimar and hopefully we will not repeat it again.”
About 3.3 million people were eligible to vote in Saxony and nearly 1.7 million in Thuringia.
The left populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which like the AfD demands stricter controls on immigration and wants to stop arming Ukraine, came third in both states, with up to 16% of the vote in Thuringia and 12% in Saxony.
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2:48
Germany fears far-right rise
Setback for German chancellor’s coalition
The far-right success is a blow to the coalition of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz just a year before the federal election in September 2025.
Mr Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) currently governs nationally with the Greens and liberal Free Democrats (FDP). Those parties had weak results on Sunday.
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8:29
‘Stop calling voters neo-Nazis’
AfD is unlikely to be able to form a state government as it is short of a majority and other parties refuse to collaborate with it.
AfD is strongest in the formerly communist east, and the domestic intelligence agency has the party’s branches in Saxony and Thuringia under official surveillance as “proven right-wing extremist” groups.
Image: A protest in Berlin against the AfD party. Pic: AP
Immigration was pushed to the top of the country’s political agenda after three people were killed in a knife attack by a suspected Islamic extremist at a festival in Solingen, western Germany, on 23 August.
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Hocke, a former history teacher, is a polarising figure who has called Berlin’s memorial to Nazi Germany’s Holocaust of Europe’s Jews a “monument of shame”.
Donald Trump has said Hamas has “three or four days” to respond to his Gaza peace plan – with Qatar, Egypt and Turkey reportedly urging the group to accept.
The US president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled the 20-point proposal at the White House on Monday.
Hamas has said it needs time to look at the details and consult with other Palestinian factions.
Israel has agreed to the terms, which include an immediate ceasefire; the release of all hostages; Hamas disarming; a guarantee no one will be forced to leave Gaza; and a governing “peace panel” including Sir Tony Blair.
Key mediators such as Qatar and Egypt have urged Hamas – who murdered more than 1,200 Israelis two years ago – to accept the deal, reported Axios.
Other influential Muslim nations such as Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also publicly backed it.
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Why the Middle East backs Trump’s peace plan
Speaking outside the White House on Tuesday, Mr Trump said they were “just waiting for Hamas” and it would be a “very sad end” if the deal was rejected.
One Hamas leader, Mahmoud Mardawi, was quoted in Middle Eastern outlets as saying the group will not agree a deal that does not include “self-determination for the Palestinian people”.
Mr Netanyahu has warned he will “finish the job” if Hamas refuses, while Mr Trump said he would “let Israel go and do what they have to do”.
However, the plan is seen as heavily favouring Israel and makes no commitment towards a two-state solution – something the Israeli leader has vowed will never happen.
Other details, such as the inclusion of former UK prime minister Sir Tony, have also been criticised due to his pivotal role in the invasion of Iraq.
Human rights activist Ashish Prashar – who said he worked with Sir Tony when he was a Middle East envoy – told Sky News’ The World programme it was “like putting the arsonist in charge of rebuilding the house he put on fire” and “there is no way Palestinians trust him”.
However, President Trump called Sir Tony a “good man” – and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky’s Sophy Ridge that Sir Tony had a “record on a lot of international things”.
Other members of the planned governing board are set to be announced in the coming days.
More than 66,000 people in Gaza have now been killed in the war, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The total does not differentiate between the number of fighters and civilians but the ministry has said about half are women and children.
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Trump 100: Blair for Gaza PM?
At least another 31 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday, local hospitals said.
Seventeen of them died in Netzarim, an Israeli-controlled corridor, while trying to get humanitarian aid. Another 33 were reportedly wounded in the incident, said al Awda hospital.
Israeli strikes which hit tents in the region of Muwasi, previously deemed a safe zone, are said to have killed 10 people.
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Gaza resident: ‘It was all for nothing’
Al Aqsa hospital said seven of the victims died near Deir al Balah after earlier this month fleeing Gaza City, where Israel has launched a renewed offensive.
The three others killed were from the same family; a man, his pregnant wife and their child. They were killed when an airstrike hit their tent west of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital.
Image: Smoke rises as displaced Palestinians fled northern Gaza on Tuesday. Pic: Reuters
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reports, but said it had struck more than 160 targets of Hamas infrastructure in the past 24 hours.
It has repeatedly stressed it goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties but that Hamas deliberately embeds itself among the civilian population.
Hamas is still believed to be holding 48 of the 251 hostages kidnapped during the 7 October attack, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Princess Anne has placed a toy bear as a poignant tribute at a children’s memorial in Ukraine, during an unexpected visit to the war-ravaged country where she also met Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The King’s sister travelled to the capital Kyiv on Tuesday, at the request of the Foreign Office, in a show of solidarity with children and families facing the horrors of the Russian invasion.
The Princess Royal met Mr Zelenskyy to discuss the UK’s support for Ukraine and its ongoing resistance.
Image: The Princess Royal and First Lady Olena Zelenska laid soft toys during a visit to a memorial for children killed in the war. Pic: PA
Anne’s secret visit, which was not publicised beforehand for security reasons, came just two days after a Russian aerial bombardment killed at least four people in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old girl, and injured at least 70 others.
The attack, which lasted more than 12 hours, was one of the heaviest in recent months.
The purpose of her trip was to highlight the traumatic experiences of children living on the frontline, Buckingham Palace said.
Joining First Lady Olena Zelenska at the children’s memorial, Anne left the teddy in tribute to youngsters killed in the conflict, saying her daughter Zara Tindall had the same bear.
As the 75-year-old princess stepped back after placing the traditional-looking teddy at the base of the memorial alongside scores of other cuddly toys, she told Mrs Zelenska: “That was one that my daughter had.”
Mrs Zelenska also left a bear in tribute.
Image: Anne is the latest British royal to make a trip to Kyiv. Pic: PA
The site commemorates more than 650 children who have died since the start of the conflict in 2022.
In Kyiv, she also met female police and armed forces representatives and heard about their key role protecting women and children.
Visiting the Child Rights Protection Centre, she spoke to families and children who have been returned and reintegrated, and met some of those working to return more Ukrainian children.
Image: Princess Anne spoke to young people who lived under occupation. Pic: PA
Image: The Princess Royal met Ukrainian war veterans relaxing in a salt therapy room at a rehabilitation centre. Pic: PA
More than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported by the Russian authorities to Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Princess Anne is the second working royal to visit Ukraine.
In April last year, the Duchess of Edinburgh was the first to go and bring a letter of support from the King.
Anne also visited a rehabilitation centre, where she met Ukrainian veterans returning from the frontline.
The King has met Mr Zelenskyy a number of times and marked the country’s independence day in August by sending a message of solidarity.
During Donald Trump’s recent state visit to the UK, Charles also took the opportunity to stress the importance of supporting Ukraine.
He told the US president in his banquet speech: “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
When Benjamin Netanyahu lands back in Israel, he will be hit by a wall of opinions. Some people are full of praise for the deal he has helped to construct, others hate it. Nobody is indifferent.
Among those who are spitting fury are members of his own cabinet.
Both come from the uncompromising political far right; both think that compromise is a sign of weakness; both were utterly outraged at the idea of the prime minister apologising to Qatar for the attack on Doha.
Image: Israeli forces have been carrying out an offensive in Gaza City. Pic: Reuters
Ben-Gvir said that, far from being a source of shame, it had been “an important, just and supremely moral attack… Qatar is a state that supports terrorism, funds terrorism and incites terrorism”.
Smotrich, as if ever worried at being outdone, compared Netanyahu with Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of the Nazis, saying his “grovelling apology” was a “disgrace”.
Can either of these men really keep serving in a cabinet with Netanyahu? And if not, how long before the government collapses?
That wouldn’t imperil the peace plan – if it survives – because it will have the support of enough opposition parties to be passed into law.
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Trump announces ‘Board of Peace’
But it would hasten a new general election, where Netanyahu would try to portray himself as the statesman who brought back the hostages (if he does) while his rivals would paint him as the man who let October 7 happen on his watch.
But in the short term, Netanyahu’s plan has plenty of fans in Israel. President Isaac Herzog applauded it and so did the forum representing the families of the hostages.
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Witkoff ‘hopeful’ on Gaza plan
Leaders from Arab countries have all said they welcome it, albeit they have, unanimously, given the credit to Donald Trump, rather than the Israeli prime minister.
But then the applause dwindles. From Hamas, the initial reaction was telling – the plan hadn’t even been sent to them before it was announced to the world. And without their buy-in, what does a deal look like? Can it even work?
They say they can’t sign up to anything that does not include Palestinian self-determination. Which this, pointedly, doesn’t.
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And remember – Hamas have the hostages. For all the implicit threats made by Trump about what would happen if Hamas don’t sign up to this deal, the return of the hostages is the point that most loudly resonates with the Israeli public.
If Hamas don’t like the deal, they won’t return the hostages.
Image: Tony Blair will be an unwelcome inclusion for many on the Palestinian side
As for the governance of Gaza – there is precious little support among Palestinians for a Trump/Blair leadership team.
“Tony Blair is a war criminal who should be in The Hague, not Gaza,” said Mustafa Barghouti, the veteran politician who has been on the Palestinian Legislative Council for nearly two decades.
And that’s an opinion I’ve heard echoed more than once.
There are more negotiations to come. “I’ll believe it when it happens,” one military figure said to me, wearily. “I’m more confident than before,” said another source, “but before I wasn’t confident at all.”
Nobody is getting too excited, too early, and there are hurdles to overcome and concessions to be made. But there is a chance that things might happen, and if they do, they might happen fast.