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Church in Germany
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Analysis

The German Church’s AfD nightmare scenario

Poised to win a state election in Saxony, the controversial party is threatening the church tax system

Luke Coppen
May 19, 2026
∙ Paid

Germany’s bishops are months away from a potential showdown with a surging political party they have urged Catholics not to vote for because of its “racial-nationalist” attitudes.

Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg, Germany. Credit: Evangelische Kirche in Österreich/wikimedia CC BY-SA 2.0

The looming confrontation could take place in the state of Saxony-An…

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