East German State Elections Show Over One Third of Christian Voters Back AfD

East German state elections held in September revealed that more than one third of Christian voters supported the AfD party in two eastern states. The AfD became the leading party in Saxony Anhalt and Mecklenburg Western Pomerania. Church leadership had repeatedly criticized AfD policies before the vote. Post election analysis found about thirty percent of Christian voters chose AfD. This gap between church stance and voter behavior became clear. A survey by Forsungsgruppe Valer in Mannheim interviewed over nine thousand voters at polling stations. Thirty three percent of Protestants voted AfD and thirty two percent of Catholics did so. Forty seven percent of non religious voters supported AfD. The Christian Democratic Union received sixteen point two percent overall but twenty six percent among Protestants and Catholics. Church members showed lower AfD support and higher CDU support. In 2025 federal elections AfD had received twenty percent of Protestant votes and eighteen percent of Catholic votes. The eastern state results exceeded those figures. A separate survey in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania after its state election on September twenty found AfD secured thirty eight point two percent. The SPD came second with thirty five point five percent. CDU fell to four point nine percent below the five percent threshold needed for state parliament entry.

The left party gained six point five percent and the Greens five point seven percent. In Berlin on the same day AfD rose from nine point one percent in 2023 to sixteen point three percent becoming the third largest party. The left party secured twenty five point seven percent and CDU eighteen point eight percent. All three eastern elections showed AfD gaining votes compared to previous results. Election outcomes are shaping government formation. In Saxony Anhalt AfD remains the largest party but cannot form a government alone. The SPD has called for cross party talks with CDU, Greens, Left and BSW. CDU has refused to join such talks and will remain in opposition. AfD and BSW are discussing policy cooperation but BSW rejects coalition participation and the nomination of an AfD candidate for state minister president. In Mecklenburg Western Pomerania parties other than AfD hold a majority. SPD state premier Manuela Schwesig plans to form a government with three parties. If successful AfD will become the sole opposition group in state parliament. AfD holds more than one third of seats and can influence decisions requiring two thirds majority. Former Bundestag president Wolfgang Thiel stated disappointment that about one third of Christians voted AfD despite clear church positions. He noted Christians are not automatically politically wise and the church must continue supporting minorities and civil society.

Lutheran bishop Tillman Jeremies cautioned against labeling all AfD voters as extremist. He said many voters feel their concerns about federal politics are ignored and the church must listen to such concerns beyond campaigning. The bishop urged churches to open halls and community centers for dialogue. Church AfD relations vary by region. In Saxony Anhalt AfD's platform strongly criticizes established churches and calls for church tax reform and restrictions on church aid. In Mecklenburg Western Pomerania AfD avoids direct church criticism and focuses on family and local church building preservation. Sociologist Gerd Picker suggests AfD's strategy in that state avoided direct conflict with churches to reach broader voters. The German Bishops Conference stated in 2024 that nationalist nationalism and Christianity are incompatible and all Protestant state churches continue criticizing AfD on grounds of human dignity and protection of immigrants and minorities. A Pomeranian Protestant district council also declared in pre election statements that ranking humans by ethnicity contradicts biblical views of humanity.