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German bishop voices ‘great concern’ after historic AfD victory in state election

September 8, 2026 · 1 min read

A German bishop expressed “great concern” after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 43.8% of the vote in a state election on Sunday, falling just short of an absolute majority and leaving the state of Saxony-Anhalt facing a protracted coalition deadlock.

The AfD, which is critical of mass migration, is described by opponents as being “far right,” populist, and/or extremist. The stateʼs domestic intelligence office has classified the partyʼs Saxony-Anhalt branch as “confirmed right-wing extremist” — a designation the AfD is challenging in court; the federal equivalent was suspended by a court in February pending a final ruling.

According to preliminary official results, the AfD will hold 39 of the state Parliamentʼs 83 seats, just three short of an absolute majority. The Christian Democrats (CDU), led by incumbent Minister-President Sven Schulze, finished a distant second with 15 seats. The Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and The Left each won eight seats, while the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) won five, according to CNA Deutsch , the German-language sister service of EWTN News.

Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg, in a joint statement with Protestant leaders, called…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Ольга Зайцева

It is not clear why the bishop is so worried. AfD scored almost 44% - people are clearly tired of migration and everything connected with it. Let them form a coalition, as it should be in a democracy, and not scare everyone with “extremism.”

Иван Богданов

I agree, Olga, people are really tired of what is happening with migration - this can be seen from the numbers. But the bishop is probably not worried about the percentages, but about the fact that a party with such a label of “extremists” could deepen the division in society. I wonder how they will now negotiate with the CDU; without a coalition it will not work.

Stefan Popović

All this looks like an ordinary political game to me. People have clearly said that they are fed up with migration, 43.8% is not a small number, and Bishop Feige immediately worries and calls for a coalition against them. Let them come to an agreement as democracy dictates, and not to be afraid in advance of "extremism" that has not even been convicted in court yet.