Thomas Kemmerich, the premier of the German state of Thuringia, resigned Saturday “with immediate effect” following backlash after his controversial election.
Kemmerich’s decision followed a meeting of political leaders of the governing coalition in Berlin on Saturday, which also called for Thuringia to hold a quick election.
The state premier in Thuringia must continue in a caretaker role until a successor takes office, according to Deutsch Welle.
All monetary gain as a result of Kemmerich’s short-lived role would be returned to the Treasury, he added. He had said Friday that he would not resign immediately.
Kemmerich, the candidate of the liberal Free Democrats, won the state election with the support of Alternative for Germany, marking the first time since World War II that a state premier had been elected with the help of the far right.
The result triggered harsh criticism from across Thuringia’s and Germany’s political landscape.