in saxony. well we have complete coverage of these potentially pivotal elections on we have a political correspondent with us here in our studio and we have our chief political editor. at the city you party headquarters also here in berlin michelle let's start with you so what could these elections mean for the government of chancellor angela merkel. but also the they do have the potential to set off a chain of events that could endanger mackerels self declared final term as german chancellor coming to an abrupt and but where fall way from that most of all they show the decline of the big tent policies that is are going to christian democrats on the social democrats who are both in a tough battle with the far right if tea in those 2 regional states who are going to the polls today michel and given those stakes there or here rather in berlin what is the atmosphere like there at the c.d.u. party headquarters tonight. but it's not as tense as one might expect there is an expectation here that yes t

in saxony and the s.p.d. and brandenburg team up with for a coalition one thing is certain despite their good numbers it won't be the a.f.d. . was c.d.u. party leaders breathed a sigh of relief and saxony chancellor merkel's party has been in power here since german reunification and they've retained control despite suffering considerable losses now that we've done it this is a message being sent out from saxony tonight a large majority of people who are standing up in a positive way for this country who want something the friendly saxony is one many thanks to all of you but it will be hard for saxony c.d.u. to form a coalition the center left s.p.d. and environmentalists greens did too poorly state premier michele clutch man has ruled out a coalition with the far right f.t. the state's 2nd strongest party which picked up a far greater share of votes than in the last election. the f.t. also won more votes in brandenburg also becoming the 2nd strongest party there but they fell short of the victory they hoped

still retained its 30th title the saxony strongest party. the friendly saxony one said state premie i'm michel yoke for many people here interest in sex in the state capitol it was somewhat every leaf the almost 3 quarters of aces didn't cast their ballots for the far right a.f.d. . now faced with the reality of the f.d.a. as saxony 2nd strongest party locals seem to be taking a pragmatic approach as one of 5 it was a vote on the people have something to say whether i like it or not i didn't vote for the day of day and now i'm came to see how the established parties deal with this and what solutions they can find for us because the. people have always voted for the seaview in the s.p.d. and now this is a consequence so they can be taken seriously compared to japanese of the so-called new states which were formally informed many things are going well in saxony. the economy is strong the strongest in the former east and unemployment here is by no means the highest in germany and yet 27 percent of voters here in saxony cast the ballots for the

and now we want to head to saxony that's where did abused brady is standing by and she's in saxony is capital city dresden kate. well call the situation here in saxony is certainly looking a lot more close said than it was at least a couple of days ago at least that's according to some opinion polls that came out just a couple of hours ago around midday herron saxony and i know americans conservative c.d.u. still seem at least to be polling in 1st position at the moment with around 30 percent but the f.t. do at least according to these latest polls seem to have been gaining a little bit of ground since the last couple of days now polling at around anywhere between 26 to 28 percent so only a couple of percentage points behind the conservatives of social democrats meanwhile still floundering at around 7 to 9 percent but of course as i say these are still in the opinion polls at the moment and we still have a couple of hours to go until we get those 1st exit polls kate you've also heard that there's been a big turnout in biggest cities in fact it's it's doubled in dresden in leipsic and

is one many thanks to all of you but it will be hard for saxony c.d.u. to form a coalition the center left s.p.d. and environmentalist greens to 2 poorly state premier michele catch my has ruled out a correlation with the far right f.t. the state's 2nd strongest party which picked up a far greater share of votes than in the last election here in saxony anglo merkel's conservative c.d.u. party has managed to hold onto its 30 year title as the state's strongest party but not without making losses namely to the alternative for germany party or a.f.p. the far right party is now the 2nd strongest party here in saxony and the result reflects the ever present divide between western and eastern germany with many voters here still feeling neglected and left behind since reunification in 1990 now it's up to angela merkel's government back in berlin to figure out exactly how they can win back those disenchanted voters. think that's the one we're focusing brandenburg also becoming the 2nd strongest part. of the for the. right side but this result this prognosis show

especially in saxony with the c.p.u. it's very conservative. it will be very hard for them to justify their position of never dealing with the idea of. election results but in the long term we cannot be left out of decision making we are going to set the agenda. g.w.s. chief political editor make followed that press conference for. xander gollan who we saw just there he said that his party is now going to set the political and at least partly in germany will be. well they have done that in the possibles and so regional actions of the various. where they were rather successful. forcing other parties to follow their agenda a lot of it is migration which undoubtedly is also something that is on the minds of people here in germany as an issue that society has to deal with but. mr allen also told me just after the press conference that he now expects these so-called grand coalition i'm going to mackerels basis for the last time as german tonsil to stay stable and to remain in government and that clearly was also the target of the far right a 50 to t

parties chancellor uggla medical's christian democrats and saxony and the social democrats or s.p.d. and brandenburg the latest opinion polls show the a.f.d. is running neck and neck with the ruling as p.d.f. brandenburg and just a few points behind the christian democrats in santa. we have team coverage of today's election let's go 1st to brandenburg that's where our political correspondent is standing by thomas sparrow is at the f.t. party headquarters in the town of verda thomas. yes carl that's right and it's precisely here where the de or at least many a tea party members will receive the results once they start to come in if you look maybe some of the signs right behind me and they're expecting very good results some of the signs behind we say it's time to stand up because history is being made or you should be here when history is being made and at least the a if he is hoping to become the strongest party right here in brandenburg that is still unclear it is still unclear in particular because as you said they are neck and neck with the social democrats but also because people

state brady brings us this report from saxony state capital dresden. after months of anticipation the dust is settling here interest and the result of sunday's election was yet another blow to germany's established big tent party but anglo-american cd. you still retained its 30 year title as sex and the strongest party. the friendly sex anyone said state premie a may say ok for many people here interest in sex and the state capitol it was somewhat every leaf that almost 3 quarters of voters didn't cast their ballots for the far right a.f.d. . now faced with the reality of the day as sex and the 2nd strongest party locals seem to be taking a pragmatic approach as one of the it was a vote of the people have something to say whether i like it or not i didn't vote for the day and now i'm keen to see how the established parties deal with this and what solutions they can find. people have always voted for the c.d.u. in the s.p.d. and now this is a consequence so they can be taken seriously compared to germany's other so-called new states which were formally

in saxony to justify not joining forces with the f.t. because some parts of his own party of anger michael c.d.u. that had been willing to do exactly that this is something that has been once again ruled out both by him and almost more importantly by the c.d.u. leader and it could come have a. successor in that role so this is simply not in the cards for now but we're in for a very interesting coalition talks indeed if your chief political editor mikaela thank you very much. now for more analysis with me here in the studio is francisca bun she's a member of the german parliament for the green party and she is the green party's european affairs spokesperson thank you very much for being with us this morning. i want to talk about your party's performance in these elections in just a moment but 1st i'd like to get your reaction to the surge in support for the far right alternative for germany how is that changing germany's political landscape. i think that the f.t. has won. and especially in saxony but we also still have to consider that 75

has won many thanks to all of you but it will be hard for saxony c.d.u. to form a coalition the center left s.p.d. and environmentalists greens did too poorly state premier michele catch my has ruled out a coalition with the far right f.t. the state's 2nd strongest party which picked up a far greater share of votes than in the last election. the f.t. also won more votes in brandenburg also becoming the 2nd strongest party there but they fell short of the victory they hoped for was my side but this result this prognosis shows one thing very clearly the a.f.d. is here to stay. politics will no longer be able to be made by going around us the center left s.p.d. remains the strongest party in brandenburg but they need to coalition partners to be able to rule. that means that we continue to face great challenges in this country to reach out to the people and work together with them that is my goal for the coming years as well. there is one thing that almost all parties can be happy about voter participation has risen considerably and both german states. were h

particularly in saxony where the city is very conservative it would be very difficult to justify. not even speaking to the f.t. it was all lost at any price so i'm just going to lean back and watch how that pans out. we have a result in a selection that does not allow the other parties to. exclude does we will be defining the issues in this federal state now mr carville's . thank you very much it's not going to surprise you that i am of course very pleased about this outstanding results for i believe it's down to a high frequency election campaign but also due to the fact. that i work has been acknowledged in the last term of office in science and it is not the case as i think many people would have liked to seen at least by our political opposition that we are all revealing ourselves here this is wrong i'm also very pleased about it we have a much higher turnout we've often heard that a lower. and lower turnout would be bad for us. i'm interested in theirs too because it's going to be very interesting to see how the other parties will behave and whether or not they'll be democrat

retained its 30-year title as saxony's strongest party. the friendly saxony won said state premier. for many in dresden, it was somewhat of a relief that almost three-quarters of voters didn't cast their ballots for the far right a.f.d. now faced with the reality of the a.f.d. as saxony's second strongest party, locals seem to be taking a pragmatic approach. >> it was a vote and the people have something to say. whether i like it or not. i didn't vote for the a.f.d. and now i'm keen to see how the established parties deal with this and what solutions they can find. >> people have always voted for the c.d.u. and s.p.d. now this is a consequence to be taken seriously. kate: compared to germany's other so-called new states formerly in former east germany, things are going well in saxony. the economy is strong, the strongest in the former east and unemployment here is by no means the highest in germany, yet 27% of voters in saxony cast their battle for the far right a.f.d. but despite the strength of the a.f.d. at the polls, all of saxony's parties have ruled out forming a coalition wit

since 2015 the number of foreigners in saxony has increased by one percent but even known f.t.v. says can sympathize with some of the issues beyond the migration debate. leaders and you see the problems 1st and foremost in the rule areas will the circumstances of people have to live in there are catastrophe. and the entire infrastructure has fallen by the wayside. saxony has made its voice heard now reaches from across germany's political spectrum awaiting to see if the government is listening . to. female giant panda mag man has given birth to twins these 1st live giant panda births are a major breakthrough for the series breaking program a mag mag i gave to her 1st cup on saturday evening on the 2nd occasion i was like well the babies are said to be doing. this is africa where the heart goes out i'll 1st because up next he won't have to i'm just going to. take it personally you read it with a little bit wonderful people and stories that make the game so special. for all true fans my. take on more than football online. her 1st day in school.

and saxony became god's votes from the s.p.d. and the greens in order to keep us out but i always state and this is true for us we are not a right wing or extremist party we are the center right party which the c.d.u. the christian immigrants were about 20 years ago and you see in the great internal problems within the c.d.u. and there are people who want to align with us make a coalition and just see that especially in saxony that almost 2 thirds of the population want a conservative liberal government and the c.d.u. of today there's not conservative anymore right from christian hunter with the berlin if the restaurant we appreciate you taking the time thought with us tonight thank you much. all right let's go to sports now in iran striker arm alucard has called on football of forwards to do more to combat racism because he was subjected to monkey chants before taking a penalty against cagliari in their italian league match on sunday which into one to one other footballers have sent messages of support to the kaku dortmund for e

committees were involved in supporting and saxony. but i'd also like to say and i don't want to mince my words i believe we agree on this the result did not do justice to our expectations but we have to be aware of the fact of the polarization and problems and but between the state premier the s.p.d. and the f.t. battling for. the top position and didn't leave much room for general. of positive change which is why it's all the more important now that in brandenburg as we tackle the questions facing us for the future a willingness to shape policy is something that. labor has shown quite clearly and he has the full support of the c.d.u. executive committee underside in committee and this is why. brandenburg no need to state it as sound stable government with a voice in the sea do you see this as a voice of responsibility and it's down to those in charge to ensure that brandenburg does not have a social democrat left party green party coalition. and we certainly want to encourage and go sense laving to take on this responsibility and the

best local election results with the anti immigration euro skeptics coming 2nd in both brandenburg and saxony. in the vigil commemorating the victims of the most deadly terror attack in modern russian history enters its 2nd day of the victims and survivors share their painful memories of the milton school siege from 2 years ago. the bruiser ground troops are real good natured there's also a bell south korean appeared to be the sole source of the. very warm welcome to the program from all of us here at our teach here in moscow thanks for joining us this hour. the u.s. department of homeland security has authorized migration officials to use fake social media accounts to monitor people seeking to enter the country but that does fly in the face of efforts to purge online networks of false profiles that's all a quarter explains fake social media accounts the latest weapon in homeland security's arsenal the department's updated guidelines have officially made cyber disguises fair game for its agents. the fraud detection and national security directorate is updating this privacy impact assessment t

especially in saxony with the c.d.u. is very conservative. it will be very hard for them to justify their position of never dealing with the idea of. election results that in the long term we cannot be left out of decision making. we are going to set the agenda. so hans alexander golland right that at some point made established bodies will have to work with the f.t. simply because it's going to be so difficult to form cool coalitions as we're seeing in these 2 recent elections what will happen here there will be kurdish and there will be 3 party coalitions nothing else is possible after these election results there will be fairly shaky coalitions but i think they will because effectively against the have these that will contribute i think to their stability in order to keep they have to be outside the political power outside the political power at the same time it has to be said that the f.t. really is very strong and there are factions within specially the conservative party and the americans conservatives that are already saying that some

amount of possible coalition perhaps in a saxony this and the c.d.u. so you think this is likely to happen. absolutely we have seen it with the green party the green party when it started in germany nobody wanted to cooperate with the green party we have seen the same after the reunification with the left wing party nobody wanted to root together with the left wing party today they are normal coalition partners and this is a matter of time and although the f.t. will be a coalition partner in due course and we are very confident that this will happen well you are seen as a moderate within the f.t. and one of the $118.00 members who signed a letter warning of the extreme right wing within the f.t. but candidates of the extreme far right have been successful of being now running the f.t. no certainly not because it's the f d which was elected by the people and this means we have obviously the right politics we have the right program we are going into the right direction and we are one f t and you have in every party you have certainly people who have diff

election results yes with the anti immigration euro skeptics coming 2nd in both brandenburg and also saxony and a vigil commemorating the deadliest terrorist attack in modern russian history enters its 2nd day well it seems victims and survivors share that painful memories of the militant school siege 15 years ago. the corporate world which. poor church in boulder. i mean. look at this a list that. i like of morning just gone 10 o'clock here in moscow you watching r.t. international now the u.s. department of homeland security has authorized migration officials to use fake social media accounts to monitor people seeking to enter the country but it does fly in the face of efforts to purge online networks of false profiles don quarter expects. fake social media accounts the latest weapon in homeland security's arsenal the department's updated guidelines have officially made cyber disguises fair game for its agents the fraud detection and national security directorate is updating this privacy impact assessment to provide notice that officers may use fictitious accounts or identities on social

its best local election results yes but the immigration here skeptics coming 2nd and brandenburg and saxony. and a vigil commemorating the victims of the most deadly terror attack in modern russian history as its 2nd day of the victims and survivors share their painful memories of the milton school siege 15 years. old still still in the theater shooting the slow steps of the room. you're watching r t international bring you your live news update from our studio here and moscow welcome to the program. the u.s. department of homeland security has authorized migration officials to use fake social media accounts to monitor people seeking to enter the country but that does fly in the face of efforts to purge online networks of false profiles as dollar corner explains. fake social media accounts the latest weapon in homeland security's arsenal the department's updated guidelines have officially made cyber disguises fair game for its agents the fraud detection and national security directorate is updating this privacy impact assessment to provide notice that officers may use fictitious accounts or

local election results yet with the anti immigration euro skeptics coming 2nd in both brandenburg and saxony. after 2 days of vigils and commemorations of the most deadly terror attack in modern russian history we speak to survivors and relatives of the victims. and iran's foreign minister tells all t. why it's vital to save the nuclear deal and stop the us breaking international law . must know that the united states for breaking the law. and. read nonstop to pure. colonial watching r.t. international i'm rosana lockwood thank you for joining us. the u.s. government has authorized migration officials to use fake social media accounts to monitor people seeking to enter the country this despite efforts to purge online networks of false profiles as donal quarter explains fake social media accounts the latest weapon in homeland security's arsenal the department's updated guidelines have officially made cyber disguises fair game for its agents the fraud detection and national security directorate is updating this privacy impact assessment to provide notice. that officers may use fictitious accou

translation: we made them, it is a message that is emanating from saxony this evening. a large majority of people who stand up a large majority of people who stand up positively for this country and wa nt up positively for this country and want something. the friendly saxony has one, said the conservative leader, a clear reference to the afd which is accused of stirring resentment and xenophobia, but it was a close call. translation: dear friends, today is an historic day. for a young party. we have only been in existence for six years and it has shaken the stronghold, saxony. in existence for six years and it has shaken the stronghold, saxonyfi afd is popular in both state and run and effective campaign. in eastern germany, where wages and pensions are germany, where wages and pensions a re lower germany, where wages and pensions are lower than in the west, follows them. as a result, the party has made big gains in both states. but the afd had hoped to win the most votes. that could have paved the way for possible coalition. afd has done well but not as well as some h

drop support in these 2 states in brandenburg if they're picking up around 25 percent mark there in saxony they're picking up almost 30 percent so big big gains that have been made it's interesting to note that in saxony where if they made the largest gains but also home to the city of chemicals which in 2018 saw violent scenes following the stabbing death of a 35 year old german man a 23 year old syrian was sentenced to jail for months slaughter just last month but following that stabbing there were huge violent clashes in the city with. very much an anti immigration bent to them it's interesting alternative of germany have picked up significant points there but for alternative for germany and now saying what their leaders are saying is that these results show that they're not just a flash in the pan on the german political stage. and that's not a given this is a sensational result we have achieved the best result in local elections ever and we can see that 30 years after the fall of the wall governments don't want to be left wing need the. the fight is not over the fight starts now we've

to the christian democratic union angle merkel's party 2728 percent for alternative for germany in saxony could end up rising as high as 30 big gains for them there and certainly big smiles from the leadership of the alternative for germany party they were saying that these results show that a de just a flush upon that they are a big part of the german political stage right now and it is a sensational results we have achieved the best result in local elections ever and we can see that 30 years after the fall of the wall governments don't want to be left wing need the it. is. the fight is not over the fight starts now we've become much stronger no one can remove us from germany politics anymore we're staying. with german politics is quite keen on a bit of self reflection a bit of navel gazing and what we've seen from other politicians who have been looking at these results from alternative for germany and they're not happy about the role they've played in allowing a.f.d. to make such big gains. i am happy that we have a really good result what worries me is a result in this means we contin

is celebrating the anti immigration euro skeptics came 2nd in state elections and brandenburg and saxony significantly increasing their influence on those parliaments. it becomes one of the party's biggest victories harbor if the next steps are not clear the ruling christian democrats have already confirmed they won't work with the f.t. the outcome will become clear later this year as peter over reports. also fame brandenberg it was a win for the social democrats in a campaign that they were neck and neck with a if they threw out the alternative for germany picking up around 23 percent of the vote there with the social democrats winning on 25 percent in saxony we saw massive gains for alternative for germany it wasn't enough for them to win the state that went to the christian democratic union i'm glad merkel's policy but 2728 percent for alternative for germany in saxony could end up rising as high as 30 big gains for them there and that's what it is the sensational results we have achieved the best result in local elections ever and we can see that 30 years after the full the wool gove

and if either had suffered a really poor result and been pushed out of government in either saxony oi’ out of government in either saxony or brandenburg, that undoubtedly would have sparked some sort of crisis in the national government, and that hasn't happened, so there is definitely a sigh of relief here in berlin, and the other big stories of course the big gains for the afd, but again not quite as, they have not done quite as well as they had hoped, because certainly in brandenburg, leaders there were hoping to win the most votes. that would have been something historic for the afd, that would have opened the floodgates possibly for future coalitions and regional governments and possibly in the future in the national government, and that is what they were hoping for and it didn't happen. so even though they afd has done well, the party has done quite as well as it was hoping. that was damien mcguinness speaking from berlin. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. the international committee of the red cross says more than a hundred people have been kille

in saxony. he had a an election campaign where he really went to the grassroots he crisscrossed that regional state he spoke to thousands of people he participated in barbecues in town hall discussions in sports events and so on and he was really very present amongst the people trying to take make to make himself and his presence felt and to accept discussion also from political opponents i think that was the direction that all major political parties will want to take in all more giving the people more of a feeling of contact between the router's or the ruling the british and charge of the actual people because there is quite a widespread feeling especially in eastern germany amongst people that they have been left behind by. the ruling party is that their interests are not being considered and that politics and policies are made at a very high level that doesn't really look dahlan towards the people on the ground huns from the day of the senior political correspondent thank you very much feel

has come in 2nd place in both brandenburg and saxony chancellor angela merkel c.d.u. and our coalition partners the s.p.d. of both see their vote dropped significantly compared to the previous election coming up next on al jazeera it's witnessed. on counting the cost $15.00 of the most polluted cities in the world are in india we look at the cost of people's health also antigovernment protesters a warm hong kong could be plunged into recession and a trillion dollar fortune built on oil and gas no white faces up to climate challenge and. counting the cost on al-jazeera. but. i've never really been into any or any group i've heard at all like you're not so long enough you're not a good muslim you're not american and. have multiple identities multiple things that make me what i am. that's what makes me. not an easy thing to be when the world wants you to be like one thing or the other. a young american. in the fashion industry by told a day. signed by a major moving agency to date which achievements for a girl who was once a week she's not. struck one week of. this canno

a local election break through intimidation movement came 2nd in state elections in brandenburg and saxony significantly increasing their influence in those polled once was those results were some of the best for the party since it was formed 56 years ago the ruling christian democrats said that they will not work with the f.d.a. the trial of a has more from berlin. also from brandenburg it was a win for the social democrats in a campaign that they were neck and neck with a.f. they threw out the alternative for germany picking up around 23 percent of the vote there with as social democrats winning on 25 percent in saxony we saw massive gains for alternative for germany it wasn't enough for them to win the state that went to the christian democratic union policy 2720. 8 percent for alternative for germany in saxony could end up rising as high as 30 big gains for them there and it is the sensational results we have achieved the best result in local elections ever and we can see that 30 years after the fall of the wall governments don't want to be left wing need the. me let me just see it is

in saxony because god's votes from the s.p.d.m. the greens in order to keep us out but i always state and it's true for us we are not a right wing or extremist party we are the center right party which the c.d.u. the christian democrats were about 20 years ago and you see in the great internal problems within the c.d.u. and there are people who want to align with us make a coalition and just see that especially in saxony that almost 2 thirds of the population want a conservative liberal government and the c.d.u. of today this is not conservative any more all right front christan hands are with the berlin the restaurant we appreciate you taking the time thought with us tonight thank you much. in the long history of britain there's that the piano more important i went for politicians to put country before tried and national interest the full self interest. numb to the state of our politics what is happening is shocking irresponsible and dangerous well that was former british prime minister tony blair speaking there blair is one of ma

to the christian democratic union angle merkel's party 2728 percent for alternative for germany in saxony could end up rising as high as 30 big gains for them there and that's not a given this is a sensational results we have achieved the best result in local elections ever and we can see that 30 years after the fall of the wall governments don't want to be left wing need the. us is i mean let me just see it is clear these 2 elections have had only one winner the have dean we've seen from other politicians who will be looking at these results from alternative for germany and they're not happy about the role they've played in allowing a day to make such big games but. i am happy that we have a really good result what worries me is a result in this means we continue to face big challenges in this country so i think we all hope for more and wished for more and i'm also disappointed like many others are disappointed and question i as the lead candidate also share responsibility for this resort alternative journey were founded as the anti euro euro skeptic party back in 2013 but it was for. th

emerge as the 2nd strongest force and both saxony and brandenburg in the east of the country mainstream party. managed to hang on to power in both states but the results are raising questions about how they should deal with e.f.t. the leader of the conservative christian democrats who won in saxony addressed journalists a short while ago this is what an a great clam cotton ball had to say about her party's election results. in higher tone with optimus was the right composure courage and optimism we will tackle future issues and we won't be divided in the process we will build bridges that is our standard. that managed to convince the residents of. this election victory makes it clear that we can't just make excuses. we have to deal with the real issues that we have to bring people together and answer tough questions. like who are people going to place their trust and for the future the truth here to our chief political editor who fill was at that press conference and she joins me now from the c.d.u. headquarters which you know we just heard a bit of water on a good come columbine had to

below the double digits they go in the neighboring state of saxony. because if they are in the worst case scenario failed the 5% threshold and that would be complete catastrophe is such a loss of political status. and will ready seeing what essentially is a political standoff between and the s. p. d. now interim leadership that currently in a leadership struggle. and seeing was two dozen. candidates going for that top role. so that could see a stand off between kind of the established leadership on the grassroots of the party and we're really seeing a posse struggling. to keep itself together. let alone the coalition government. now let's go back to these two states that themselves validly her into and we just heard this is a litmus test in a sense for the federal government. is it also a litmus test for reunification thirty years after the fact. i wouldn't say that i think reunification. there has been so much migration with in germany i think almost five million people. they moved from western germany's eastern germany and vice versa obviously too s

translation: we made it, it is a message that is emanating from saxony this evening. a large majority of people who stand up positively for this country, who want something. the friendly saxony has won, said saxony‘s conservative leader, a clear reference to the afd which is accused of stirring resentment and xenophobia, but it was a close call. translation: dear friends, today is a historic day. our young party, we have only been in existence for six years, has shaken the stronghold, saxony. the afd is popular in both state and run an effective campaign. the party tapped into disaffection in former communist eastern germany, where wages and pensions are lower than in the west — the afd even co—opted phrases from the dissident movement that brought dow nthe berlin wall, 30 years ago. as a result, the party has made big gains in both states. but the afd had hoped to win the most votes. that could have paved the way to possible future coalitions. that didn't happen so the afd has done well is has not done quite as well as some hoped. damien mcguinnes, bbc news, be