Berlin Accuses Elon Musk of Interfering in German Elections
German Politicians Draw Parallels Between Musk and Putin’s Influence Tactics
The German government has accused Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, of attempting to sway Germany’s upcoming elections in February. Musk’s alleged interference has sparked widespread debate, particularly due to his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Musk recently endorsed the AfD, describing it as “Germany’s last hope,” in an opinion piece published by the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. The article led to the resignation of the newspaper’s commentary editor in protest. Additionally, Musk has been actively voicing his support on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
A German government spokesperson stated, “It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election.” While Musk has the right to express his opinions, the spokesperson added, “Freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense.”
Musk defended his involvement in German politics by citing his significant business investments in the country. He praised the AfD’s policies on regulation, taxes, and market deregulation. However, his public endorsements have drawn sharp criticism from German politicians and the public.
Germany’s parliamentary elections, set for February 23, were called following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government. The political environment has been further destabilized by recent events, including a car attack at a Christmas market on December 20, which left five people dead. Musk called for Scholz’s resignation after the incident.
The AfD currently holds second place in opinion polls, trailing the opposition conservatives. Mainstream German parties have vowed not to collaborate with the AfD at the national level due to concerns over its far-right stance.
German leaders have strongly condemned Musk’s actions. A government spokesperson described his endorsement as “a recommendation to vote for a party monitored on suspicion of being right-wing extremist.”
Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), compared Musk’s actions to those of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Klingbeil accused both of attempting to undermine German democracy and weaken the country.
Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats and a potential successor to Scholz, labeled Musk’s comments as “intrusive and pretentious.”
