Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz may have just dodged a bullet. Exit polls suggest that his Social Democratic Party (SPD) has managed to fend off the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Brandenburg state election. The SPD scored 31.8% of the vote, narrowly ahead of the AfD's 29.2%. This result is a relief for Scholz, who has been facing criticism from within his own party about his leadership.

The Brandenburg election was a tight race, with the SPD and AfD neck and neck throughout the campaign. However, in the end, the SPD's popularity prevailed, thanks in part to the efforts of incumbent Premier Dietmar Woidke. Woidke, who has been critical of Scholz's federal government policies, helped to mobilize SPD voters and bring in new supporters.

But the AfD is far from defeated. The party still managed to gain 5.7 percentage points since the last election in 2019, and it remains a force to be reckoned with. The AfD's strong performance among young voters is particularly concerning, as it reflects a growing trend across Europe.

The election results also underscore the ongoing upheaval in Germany's political landscape. The traditional center-left and center-right parties are struggling to maintain their hold on power, while newer parties like the AfD and the Greens are gaining ground. The result achieved by the Greens, 4.7%, is a good sign for the party, but it still has a long way to go before it can be considered a major player in German politics.

The outcome of the election may give Scholz a temporary reprieve from the pressure he has been facing from within his own party. However, it is unlikely to change the underlying dynamics of the federal election scheduled for next September. The SPD is still struggling to regain its popularity, and it will need to do more than just hold onto its current level of support if it wants to remain a viable option for voters.

CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ

A Narrow Escape for Germany's Scholz

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