Projected election results in the German state of Thuringia would put the far - right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) in first place with between 31 . 2 % and 33 . 2 % of the vote . The projections from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF , which are based on exit polls and initial election results , were released at about 7 pm ( 1700 GMT ) on Sunday evening . The centre - right Christian Democrats ( CDU ) are projected to finish in second place with between 23 . 9 % and 24 . 5 % of the vote . The CDU , however , looks likely to lead coalition talks in Thuringia as most political parties have vowed never to work with the AfD . The newly launched populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance ( BSW ) is forecast to finish in third place with 15 . 4 % to 15 . 7 % of the vote . Incumbent Thuringia state Premier Bodo Ramelow ' s hard - left Die Linke ( The Left ) is forecast for 11 . 5 % to 12 . 4 % of the vote , a major decline from the party ' s victory in the 2019 elections when they led with 31 % of the vote . Germa n Chancellor Olaf Scholz ' s centre - left Social Democrats ( SPD ) are projected to collect 6 . 1 % to 6 . 8 % of the vote . But Scholz ' s national coalition partners , the Greens and the pro - business liberal Free Democrats ( FDP ), are forecast to fall short of the 5 % threshold required to take seats in German elections . The Greens are forecast to finish with 3 . 8 % of the vote , while the FDP trail with just 1 . 2 %, according to ARD . dpa sk tre jed xxde bst eraSource: The Namibia News Agency