Polling Stations Open for State Elections in Thuringia, Germany

People in the eastern German states of Thuringia and Saxony began voting on Sunday in an election that could see the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) become the strongest party.

Germany's main opposition conservative party hopes to keep AfD at bay in the 2 states which are home to around 4.1 million and 2.1 million people, respectively.

But prospects look grim for the three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition, whose constant infighting has added to a flatlining economy and other problems to turn voters off.

Wins for AfD would be a potent signal for the party just over a year before the next national election is due.

But it would most likely need a coalition partner to govern, and it's highly unlikely anyone else will agree to put it in power.

Even so, its strength could make forming new state governments extremely difficult.