German government accuses billionaire Elon Musk of election interference
A close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump has praised the AfD party as "the last ray of hope" for Germany.
The German government has accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of attempting to influence the country's upcoming federal election, scheduled for February 23, 2025. According to German cabinet spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann, Mr. Musk is trying to sway public opinion in favor of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Billionaire Musk sparked controversy in Germany after posting on social media platform X earlier this month that “only the AfD can save Germany.” Then, last week, he wrote an editorial in the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag in which he defended the party against accusations of extremism and praised its economic policies.
“Elon Musk is really trying to influence the federal election through his statements,” Hoffmann said on December 31. She noted that while free speech allows for the expression of any opinion, including what she called “completely absurd,” it does not exempt individuals from the consequences of their words.
According to RT, the AfD has been classified as a “suspicious” extremist organization by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency because of its hardline anti-immigration and anti-establishment stance. The party is currently second in the polls, behind the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, but remains shunned by other major parties, which have ruled out a coalition with the AfD.
In his editorial, billionaire Musk rejected criticism aimed at AfD, stating that, “describing them as far-right is patently wrong.”
"The traditional parties have failed in Germany. Their policies have led to economic stagnation, social unrest and an erosion of national identity," Musk wrote. "Despite its far-right label, AfD represents political realism that appeals to many Germans who feel their concerns are being ignored by those in power."
Friedrich Merz, the leading candidate for the CDU/CSU coalition and a potential candidate for the next chancellor, described Mr Musk's intervention as "intrusive and arrogant", saying he could not remember a similar case of interference in the election campaign of a friendly country.
Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), compared billionaire Musk to Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing both of trying to weaken Germany by supporting AfD.
The three-way coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed in early November due to internal disputes over spending priorities. On December 16, the German leader lost a confidence vote in the Bundestag, signaling the end of his minority government. A snap election has been scheduled for February 23, 2025.
Founded in 2013, the AfD has become more popular in recent years. According to a survey conducted for Bild last week by the INSA pollster, 45-year-old Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, is leading her rivals in the race to become the next chancellor. Weidel is expected to be confirmed as the AfD's candidate at a party conference next month.
