This is John Batcher, conversation with my good colleague Judy Dempsey at Carnegie in Berlin,

about the upcoming Sunday vote the 22nd in the Brandenburg State,

neighboring Berlin, Brandenburg, dominated by the Social Democrats Olaf Schultz Party,

Olaf Schulz as the coalition leader. The AFD, the alternative for Deutschland, is said to be doing very well in the polling.

It's neck and neck between the Social Democrats an old established party going back many decades

since the war, led by Olaf Schultz.

Neck and neck with alternative for Deutschland, a new splinter party did well in Tarringia

state and in Saxony state elections two weeks ago. Now the test, all eyes on Brandenburg

controls what happens to the AFD. If it continues to rise rise it's a challenge nationally to next year's election.

However, there are reasons to doubt that

AFD has a great constituency at this moment. It does have momentum.

Brandenburg is several million people. It includes Potsdam at Neighbour as Berlin.

It's going to get much coverage in the capital. Judy Dempsey neighbor is just

going to get much coverage in the capital. Judy Dempsey, Carnegie on the Brandenburg

boat. Watch the results on Sunday the 22nd. More of this later tonight.

The Brandenburg is just so important. It neighbors the capital of Germany, Berlin.

It's several million people. But this is an extraordinary test case for the

popularity of the coalition but particularly Chancellor Olaf Schulz's

Social Democratic Party.

Ever since the unification of Germany 1990,

Brandenburg has been governed by the Social Democratic Party.

And now they are under immense pressure by the alternative for Germany.

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