Björn Höcke calls strong polling for far-right AfD in Thuringia a 'historic victory'

The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, has called his party’s success in Sunday’s state elections a "historic victory".

It's the first time since World War II that a far-right party appears set to enter a state parliament, with the AfD polling at over 32% of the vote, according to Sunday's exit polls.

"I am overjoyed. I am proud of my state association. I am proud of the many, many volunteers who came to us, especially from the associations in the west of the country, and campaigned here. We have achieved a historic result," Höcke said.

"For the first time in its still young party history, the AfD has become the strongest parliamentary force after 11 years. And that fills me with great, great, great pride and satisfaction."

The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has fallen to second place in popularity in the state, polling at over 23%.

Speaking to German public broadcaster ARD, Höcke warned that creating a governing coalition without his party "would not be good for the state."

"Whoever wants stability in Thuringia has to integrate the AfD," he said.

Without support from other parties, the AfD can't govern in Thuringia but finding coalition partners willing to work with it is expected to be challenging.

The party's success at the polls was also praised by the AfD's leader in the German parliament, the Bundestag. Tino Chrupalla said it was clear "the voter wants a change of politics".

"In Thuringia we are clearly ahead by over ten percent, which is a clear government mandate, which is actually democracy, something the other parties always talk about. In Saxony we are neck and neck with the CDU, maybe we even manage to become the strongest party here as well," he said.

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