Blow for German right-wing party after election loss

Germany's right-wing party, Alternative for Deutschland, or AfD, has narrowly lost a regional election, its first test since a damning expose was published about its plans for governing and mass deportation of foreigners, which sparked massive protests nationwide.

Polls prior to the district election, in Saale-Orla in the southeastern state of Thuringia on Sunday, had indicated the AfD was likely to secure its second local government mandate amid growing support for anti-immigration policies.

The vote marked the first election following a report published earlier this month by investigative outlet Correctiv, which exposed a November meeting where AfD politicians and right-wing extremists discussed their plans for mass deportation of foreigners and unassimilated German citizens.