Elon Musk has sparked outrage in Berlin by appearing to support the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany.
“Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk, who was appointed by President Donald Trump to co-chair a commission to reduce the size of the US federal government, wrote on his social media platform X.
He reposted a video by German right-wing influencer Naomi Seipt, criticizing Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Party, who is most likely to become Germany's next chancellor, and criticizing liberal He praised Argentine President Javier Millay.
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said Musk's decision to participate in Germany's political debate weeks before snap elections was “indecent and deeply problematic.”
Europe's biggest economy is set to go to the polls on February 23, following the collapse of Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition last month. AfD is in second place in opinion polls. Elements of the party have been classified as right-wing extremists by Germany's domestic intelligence services, and mainstream parties have vowed to refuse to cooperate with the AfD at the national level.
The German government gave a cursory response to Musk's post, noting that it had been registered, but a spokesperson declined to comment further.
At a press conference in Berlin, Mr. Scholz indirectly responded to the post, saying, “There is freedom of speech here. That applies to the very wealthy. It also means that you can say things that don't contain personal advice.
Former German lawmaker Elmer Bloch dismissed Musk's comments as “world domination fantasies of American tech tycoons”.
Mr. Lauterbach accused Mr. Musk of election interference and urged authorities to “closely monitor what is happening at X.” “It is deeply concerning that Platform That's what we should do.”
The most direct response to Musk's tweet came from Christian Lindner, leader of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), who was sacked as finance minister by Scholz over deep disagreements over fiscal management.
Lindner writes of X: “Elon, I was inspired by ideas from you and Millais to start a policy discussion. Immigration control is extremely important for Germany, but the AfD is a far-right extremist party that opposes freedom and business. Jumping to conclusions from afar. No need. See you, I'll show you what FDP means.
In May, the AfD was expelled from the pan-European parliamentary group of populist far-right parties after a series of controversies, including a comment by an AfD official that the Nazi SS was “not all criminals”.
The ID group, which includes France's far-right National Rally, Italy's Lega, Austria's Freedom Party, Geert Wilders' Dutch Freedom Party and Belgium's Vlaams Beran, said it “no longer wants such activities.”[ed] related to such incidents.”
Musk has previously voiced support for anti-immigration groups across Europe, including Britain's Reform Party and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He has previously expressed enthusiastic support for Mr Millay, who in his first year as Argentina's president slashed public spending, cut tens of thousands of public sector jobs and plunged many households into economic despair. Ta.
AfD leader Alice Weidel, who is running for prime minister, reposted Musk's comments and wrote: You are absolutely right @elonmusk!”
Weidel said Musk should be mindful of “how socialist he is,” referring to a recent interview he gave about Trump with the news organization Bloomberg. [Angela] Merkel ruined our country and how the Soviet European Union destroyed the country's economic backbone and a dysfunctional Germany. ” She wished Musk and Trump a happy Christmas and wished them “the best in their future terms.”
Last year, Mr. Musk criticized the German government and its approach to illegal immigration, one of his key campaign issues. He also launched a personal tirade against Scholz and his economy minister, Robert Habeck.
This week, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted a photo of himself meeting with Musk and the party's treasurer at Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida, showing that Musk is a member of the party's government. He claimed he was ready to provide financial support to improve his chances.
