The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made strong gains in two state elections, in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, on Sunday, according to exit polls by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
The AfD came first with 37-38 percent in the northeastern coastal state, the exit polls showed, and won 16 percent in Berlin, although it looked set to remain shut out of power in both states because of a "firewall" of non-cooperation agreed by other major parties.
