BERLIN, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Germany's Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party surged to win more than 10 percent of the vote in two states on Sunday in a growing challenge to Chancellor Angela Merkel as her new right-wing rival makes further inroads into her power base.
Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) could also suffer an ominous loss of power in the state of Thuringia if the hardline Left party can persuade the Social Democrats (SPD) to switch allegiances and elect Germany's first Left state premier.
The AfD, which was founded in early 2013 to oppose euro zone bailouts, surpassed all forecasts to win 10.2 percent of the vote in Thuringia and 11.9 percent in Brandenburg, according to projections broadcast on German television late on Sunday.
Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) could also suffer an ominous loss of power in the state of Thuringia if the hardline Left party can persuade the Social Democrats (SPD) to switch allegiances and elect Germany's first Left state premier.
The AfD, which was founded in early 2013 to oppose euro zone bailouts, surpassed all forecasts to win 10.2 percent of the vote in Thuringia and 11.9 percent in Brandenburg, according to projections broadcast on German television late on Sunday.
The upstart AfD, ostracised by all mainstream parties, had already won a shock 9.7 percent in an election in Saxony two weeks ago on a campaign that is now also heavily focused on law and order.
While the AfD fell just short of the 5 percent hurdle in last year's federal election, the right-leaning party is now cresting over 7 percent nationally. It now has seats in three of 16 state assemblies.
AfD leader Bernd Lucke, a 52-year-old economics professor and father of five, said the strong results in two more eastern states add to the momentum of the party, which also won 7 percent of the vote in May's European parliamentary election.
"We're delighted that voters have made the choice for a political renewal," Lucke said. "The results are even better than in Saxony and will give us enormous tailwind. We're not going to sit still and let the other parties bad-mouth us."
Some political analysts had predicted the AfD might wither like the once trendy Pirates party, even though the AfD's ranks are filled with experienced politicians who defected from the centre-right. The AfD was also plagued by infighting earlier this year and struggled to stem an exodus of members.
Most damaging, in a country where far-right views are anathema in politics because of the Nazi past, were allegations the AfD was being infiltrated and supported by extremists.
But Lucke managed to silence the radical elements and widen the AfD's message. It was originally a one-issue party calling for a return to the Deutsche Mark. Its focus now includes better education, more security and support for small businesses.
