German AfD becomes top party in another state parliament

In Sunday's German state parliamentary elections, the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party has become the leading party in one state parliament.

The AfD advocates anti-immigrant policies and has been designated as a far-right group in some states.

The public broadcaster ZDF says that AfD gained 32 of 71 seats in the parliamentary election of the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to become the largest party.

At the same time, the center-right Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, headed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, failed to secure any seats, falling short of the five percent threshold needed to secure a seat. The party has lost representation in a state parliament for the first time.

Merz issued a statement after the polls closed, describing the outcome as a "disaster." He indicated he will stay on, saying he will demonstrate his qualities as leader of the CDU and as German chancellor.

As another result of Sunday's election, the AfD also gained more seats to become the third largest party in Berlin's state parliament.

The AfD had earlier won the most seats in the eastern states of Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt.