German far-right party wins its first county leadership post as it rises in polls
The far-right Alternative for Germany party has seen its first head of a county administration elected in a rural eastern region BERLIN -- The far-right Alternative for Germany party saw its first head of a county administration elected Sunday in a rural eastern region, a win that comes as national polls show its support at record levels. A runoff election in Sonneberg county pitted Alternative for Germany's candidate, Robert Sesselmann, against center-right rival Jürgen Köpper. Official figures showed Sesselmann, who had been well ahead in the first round two weeks ago, winning by 52.8% to 47.2%. Sonneberg has a relatively small population of 56,800, but the win is a symbolic milestone for Alternative for Germany, or AfD. The 10-year-old party has been polling between 18% and 20% in national surveys lately. It has been riding high as center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro- Business Free Democrats faces strong he...