15 March, 2016
In Germany, a political party opposed to immigration has won seats in three elections on Sunday.
The Alternative for Deuthschland (AfD) party won spots in southwestern Germany, which is rich, and in Saxony-Anhalt, which is poor.
The party was started three years ago. It has seats in half of Germany's 16 state parliaments, according to German state TV.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, the AfD party won 15 percent of the vote. In the Rhineland area, the party received almost 13 percent. In Saxony, it won 24 percent of the vote.
An official with the AfD party said, "People want an alternative; they want a real opposition, and we want to take on that task."
The loss is a setback for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She favors an open immigration policy.
Merkel is pressured to close Germany to migrants. Merkel is trying to reach an agreement between the European Union and Turkey to slow the flow of migrants.
I'm Anna Matteo.
VOANews reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English.
Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit testbig.com.
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Words in This Story
alternative - n. something that can be chosen instead of something else
task - n. a piece of work that has been given to someone; a job for someone to do
setback – n. a problem that makes progress more difficult or success less likely
favors – v. helping someone or something in an unfair way; to approve or or support something
migrants – n. a person who goes from one place to another, especially to find work