RAGUHN-JESSNITZ, Germany — The first brick to fall in Germany’s so-called firewall against the far right was this town of some 9,000 people in the small eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The Alternative for Germany party has tried to soften its hard-line image but is still privately working with extremists. It could win a state election on Sunday.

The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is poised to top the poll in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Far-right party on course to win state elections for first time, with plan to implement radical policy platform focused on immigration and family

BERLIN, Sept 3 (Reuters) - The Alternative for Germany (AfD) under lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund is vying to win power for the first time in closely watched elections in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday.

German far-right AfD politicians like to ride vintage Simson scooters that are icons of the former communist East Germany -- much to the dismay of the Jewish family whose name adorns the machines.

Germany’s defence minister has called for the AfD to be banned, marking the most direct intervention yet by a senior government minister against the Right-wing populist party.

Germany faces a landmark regional election on Sept. 6 in the ex-communist east where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is expected to win and has its sights on heading its first state government.

If the AfD wins key regional elections on Sunday and becomes the first far-right party in post-war Germany to form a state government, experts fear far-reaching consequences for security and defence.