The leader of the Christian Democrats ( CDU ) in the German state of Thuringia said on Sunday that his centre - right party has a mandate to form the next government , despite a projected second - place finish in state parliamentary elections . The far - right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) is projected to score a clear victory in Thuringia ' s election , according to exit polls released just after voting ended at 6 pm ( 1600 GMT ) on Sunday . But other political parties have all categorically ruled out any cooperation with the AfD , decrying the party as too radical and anti - democratic . Voigt underscored again on Sunday that he would not consider any such alignment . Voigt said the election results called for political change in the state , which has been governed by a left - wing coalition led by Bodo Ramelow of the hard - left Die Linke ( The Left ) party . " As the CDU , we see this as an opportunity for political change under the leadership of the CDU ," Voigt , 47 , said at an election evenin g party in the state capital of Erfurt . He said he plans on leading coalition talks to form a " sensible government in Thuringia under the leadership of the CDU ," and added that he would approach the centre - left Social Democrats ( SPD ), who are projected to finish in fifth place . He also expressed openness to working with the upstart populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance ( BSW ), which has mixed anti - immigration stances with left - wing economic policies . dpa dhu sku xxde bst eraSource: The Namibia News Agency