German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD party narrowly beat the far-right Alternative for Germany in the Brandenburg election, which was seen as a referendum for him.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) staved off the far right in a regional election on Sunday, likely providing him only a brief reprieve from growing criticism of his leadership within his own party.

Scholz has said that he will seek a second term. Some lower-level party members have periodically questioned the wisdom of that and the Social Democrats haven't yet made it official, but Klingbeil reinforced the message that his candidacy isn't in question.