Scholz's party fends off far-right in state vote

BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) looked set to fend off the far-right in a state election in Brandenburg on Sunday after trailing behind the Alternative for Germany (AfD) throughout the campaign, initial official figures showed.

The SPD, which has governed the state surrounding the capital Berlin since reunification in 1990, scored 30.9per cent of the vote, ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany on 29.2per cent, in a last-minute comeback, according to provisional official results by the State Electoral Commissioner.

The success for the SPD could give Scholz a slight reprieve from party discussions about his suitability to be once more its chancellor candidate for the federal election scheduled for next September given his unpopularity with voters.

"A great result, very great for the SPD, and for all of us," Scholz was quoted as saying by Politico on the sidelines of his visit to the United Nations in New York on Sunday.