Far right gains in German elections a 'disaster'

East Germans have given a strong boost to far-right groups and the former communists in two state elections.

Although the projections based on partial returns gave the fringe parties no share of power in Saxony or Brandenburg, the results were a fresh setback for Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats - and also for opposition conservatives.

"This has to be a warning for Germany 's democratic parties," said secretary-general Mr Laurenz Meyer of the conservative Christian Democrats after they lost heavily yesterday in both states.

Mr Franz Muentefering, head of the Social Democrats, called the 9.3 per cent taken by the far-right National Democratic Party in Saxony, almost on par with his own party's showing, a "disaster," but insisted their political influence would remain small.

The voters appear to be punishing the country's biggest mainstream parties for the region's high unemployment and cuts in social programs

Average unemployment in east  Germany has been stuck at about 20 per cent, nearly twice the national average, and voter analysis showed the extremist parties garnered much of their support from the jobless.

In Brandenburg, the results gave Social Democrats and Christian Democrats enough support to continue a Social Democrat-led coalition for another five years.

In Saxony, the Christian Democrats lost their majority but were poised to head an alliance with the pro-business Free Democrats.

But the anti-immigrant National Democrats were jubilant after a populist campaign in Saxony, one of the east's most prosperous regions, that included broad attacks on Mr Schroeder's economic reforms.

"This is a huge victory for the German people," said Mr Holger Apfel, their leader in Saxony.

AP