Germany could face a political earthquake, with the far-right looking to emerge in two state elections as the leading political force, a result that could destabilise Europe's biggest economy.
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As campaigning in Brandenburg and Saxony ended on Friday, polls pointed to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) consolidating its recent political gains in the two eastern German states.
Further electoral gains for the AfD would represent another major setback to the nation's mainstream political parties, possibly pushing the governing Christian Democrats (CDU) to the right as they seek to win over AfD voters.
Though the AfD may emerge as the states' biggest political force, the party is not expected to enter into government. All established political parties have declined to form a coalition with the AfD.
Gains for the AfD in the east would also threaten the future of Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition with the centre-left Social Democratics (SPD) and raise fresh doubts about the chancellor's anointed successor, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.
Another slump in support for the ailing SPD would likely strengthen the hand of party members calling for it to regroup by ending its coalition with the CDU.
But despite a series of power struggles in its leadership, a slew of recent voter surveys show the SPD in a neck-and-neck race with the AfD in Brandenburg to become the biggest party in parliament.
In Saxony, which is a key eastern German economic powerhouse, the far-right party is aiming to topple the CDU-led government.
Australian Associated Press
