BERLIN, (TDI): Germany’s government on Monday accused Elon Musk of attempting to influence the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The move was strongly condemned by major political parties.
Musk, a billionaire tech entrepreneur and key supporter of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, declared on his social media platform X, “Only the AfD can save Germany,” on December 20, 2024. He later reinforced this position with an opinion piece published in a German Sunday newspaper.
On Monday, German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann addressed the issue during a press conference, stating, “It is a fact that Elon Musk is trying to exert influence on the parliamentary election.” She emphasized that elections in Germany are determined solely by voters, adding, “Elections are a matter for Germans.”
While acknowledging Musk’s right to express his opinion, Hoffmann remarked, “Freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense.” She also highlighted that the AfD is under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency on suspicion of being a right-wing extremist group, with some states already designating it as such.
The controversy arises as Germany prepares for elections on February 23 following the collapse of a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Politicians Condemn Musk’s Remarks
Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), accused Musk of attempting to destabilize Germany.
Speaking to the Funke media group, Klingbeil likened Musk’s actions to those of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming both were seeking to bolster the AfD and create chaos in Germany.
“They want to influence our elections and support the AfD, which is hostile to democracy,” Klingbeil said, calling for stronger European-level measures to curtail the political influence of major social media platforms like X.
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Musk has also criticized Scholz personally, referring to him as an “incompetent fool” on X and urging him to resign following a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg on December 20.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative opposition CDU/CSU, also condemned Musk’s actions, calling them “interfering and presumptuous.”
He noted that he could not recall “a comparable case of meddling in the election campaign of an allied country in the history of Western democracy.”
The AfD’s Rising Poll Numbers
The AfD is polling at 19%, placing it second behind the CDU/CSU at 32%. Meanwhile, the SPD is predicted to face its worst-ever result, with 16% support, and its Green coalition partners are polling at 13%.
Despite its strong polling, the AfD’s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, has little chance of forming a government, as other parties have vowed not to work with the far-right group.
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Musk’s guest commentary in Welt am Sonntag described the AfD as “the last spark of hope for this country.”
He argued that the party could lead Germany toward a future of economic prosperity, cultural integrity, and technological innovation. Musk defended his comments by citing his investments in Germany, claiming they granted him the right to speak on the nation’s issues.
Backlash and Resignation
The publication of Musk’s article sparked a national debate about free speech and the role of foreign influence in German politics.
The paper’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, resigned over the decision to publish Musk’s piece, announcing her departure on X.
“I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of Welt and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print,” Kogel wrote.
The newspaper faced criticism from politicians and other media outlets for providing Musk with a platform, intensifying the controversy surrounding his interventions in German politics.
