Ramelow was widely expected to hold onto the role following his party's victory in the Thuringia state elections in October. The fact that the CDU and the FDP cooperated with the AfD in Thuringia, of all places, adds to the injury. Angela Merkel called for the "unique" decision to vote with AfD to "be reversed, at least for the CDU." The Chairman of far-right AfD party group in Thuringia, Bjoern Hoecke (right) congratulates Thomas Kemmerich, leader of the state branch of Thuringia's Free Democratic Party and newly elected Prime Minister of Thuringia. Centrist parties, including the CDU, suffered major losses in the Thuringia's state elections in October, while Die Linke and AfD surged ahead.

Source: CNN February 06, 2020 12:45 UTC