Elon Musk Sparks Controversy With Far-Right Endorsement Ahead Of German Election

By -

The German government has accused U.S. billionaire Elon Musk of attempting to sway Germany’s upcoming parliamentary election in February by supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Despite labeling Musk’s comments as “nonsense,” officials voiced concern over his influence.

Musk, who is slated to advise Donald Trump’s new administration, expressed his endorsement of the AfD in a guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, sparking backlash that led to the resignation of the commentary editor in protest.

“It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election,” a German government spokesperson confirmed, referencing both Musk’s opinion piece and his posts on the social media platform X. While emphasizing Musk’s right to free speech, the spokesperson remarked, “Freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense.”

Defending his involvement in German politics, Musk cited his significant investments in the country and praised the AfD’s stance on deregulation, taxation, and market policies.

Musk’s comments come at a tumultuous time in German politics, with elections scheduled for February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government. Musk has openly criticized Scholz, even calling for his resignation after a tragic incident at a Christmas market on December 20, where a car attack claimed five lives.

Opinion polls place the AfD in second position, trailing the opposition conservatives. However, mainstream German parties have pledged to avoid any coalition with the AfD due to its far-right ideology.

Government representatives have condemned Musk’s support of a party under surveillance for suspected right-wing extremism. “Musk’s endorsement is essentially a recommendation to vote for a party being monitored for extremism,” the spokesperson warned.

Criticism of Musk’s actions has been widespread. Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), compared Musk to Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing both of seeking to destabilize German democracy by backing the AfD.

“Both aim to weaken Germany and plunge it into chaos,” Klingbeil said in an interview with the Funke news group.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats and a leading candidate for the chancellorship, called Musk’s remarks “intrusive and pretentious.”

As Germany approaches a pivotal election, Musk’s controversial intervention has ignited heated debate about foreign influence and the boundaries of free speech in political discourse.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Israel Moves To Shut Down Al Jazeera After A New Law Permits The Banning Of International Media Deemed A security Threat

By -
Image
    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to shut down news network Al Jazeera following the passage Monday of a  sweeping law  allowing the government to ban foreign networks perceived as posing a threat to national security. Netanyahu said he intended “to act immediately in accordance with the new law” to stop the Qatari-based news outlet’s activity in the country, according to a post on social media platform X following the passage of the law. Al Jazeera Media Network, which has produced dogged, on the ground reporting of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza,  slammed the decision  in a statement, vowing it would not stop the network from continuing its “bold and professional coverage.” The new law gives the prime minister and communications minister authority to order the temporary closure of foreign networks operating in Israel – powers that rights groups say could have far-reaching implications on international media coverage of...
Read more

Kamala Harris Has More Billionaires Openly Backing Her Than Trump (But Many Are Staying Silent)

By -
Image
  Trump and Harris during their September presidential debate. Forbes found at least 100 billionaires in the corners of either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris—with many more backing Harris—but unlike the world’s richest man Elon Musk, who stumps extensively on Trump’s behalf, many have elected to watch from the sidelines, like Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg. Key Facts Our breakdown records 76 billionaires supporting Harris and 49 backing Trump so far (see the lists for both below). Many more billionaires may still financially back a candidate, but their donations won’t be learned until after the election, when final Federal Election Commission reports are issued in December. Billionaires leaning toward Harris may seem incongruous, since she often criticizes Trump for advocating for policies favorable toward billionaires—but there are practical reasons why the ultra wealthy may favor Harris. A  letter  signed by more than a dozen billionai...
Read more

Lando Norris: From Horseback To Pole Position - Inside The Rise Of F1's Newest Sensation

By -
Image
In the high-speed world of Formula 1, one name has been stealing the spotlight: Lando Norris. The Bristol-born 24-year-old has quickly become the poster boy for the sport, and his recent victory in Miami has propelled him to new heights, knocking reigning world champion Max Verstappen off the top of the podium. Norris's journey to F1 greatness has been nothing short of remarkable. From his humble beginnings as a horse riding enthusiast to his meteoric rise through the ranks of motorsports, his story is as captivating as it is inspiring. Despite his early love for horseback riding, Norris found his true passion in motorsports, first on quad bikes and then in motorcross. It was clear from a young age that he had a natural talent for speed and adrenaline. Now, Norris stands as one of the most successful F1 drivers both on and off the racetrack. With a four-year contract worth an estimated £80 million and a string of luxury brand deals, he's living the high life both professionally...
Read more