German state premier steps down to stop ‘stain’ of far-right influence

Thomas Kemmerich became the head of Thuringia after support from the Alternative for Germany party

The election of Thomas Kemmerich caused a political uproar. Getty

The premier of a German state who was recently elected with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has resigned and called the move “unavoidable”.

Thomas Kemmerich of the liberal Free Democrats said he would apply for the state parliament to be dissolved to “remove the stain of the AfD’s support”.

“There was no cooperation with the AfD, there is not and will not be," he said.

Mr Kemmerich had been criticised after he become the first state premier to be elected with the support of the AfD on Wednesday.

His shock ascension came despite incumbent Bodo Ramelow’s Left party winning Thuringia’s state elections in October. Mr Ramelow, however, lost the vote for state premier by a single vote.

Mr Kemmerich’s victory was controversial because working with the AfD is seen as taboo given the history of the Nazi's in Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel had criticised the local faction of her Christian Democrats for also supporting Mr Kemmerich.

"It was a day that broke with the values of the CDU and now everything must be done to make it clear that this can in no way be brought in line with what the CDU thinks and does," she said on a trip to South Africa.

A two-third majority is needed to dissolve the state parliament.