Title: Musk‘s Endorsement of Alternative for Germany Sparks Debate ahead of Crucial Election
In a move that’s drawing fire from both German government and opposition figures, American billionaire Elon Musk has once again thrown his weight behind the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), with critics decrying his influence as "unwarranted foreign meddling," Reuters reports.
Musk’s endorsement comes at a sensitive time, with Germans gearing up to vote in the country’s parliamentary election on February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government.
In a German-language article published in the Sunday edition of Welt, Musk expanded on his views, first publicly aired in a post on the social media platform X last week. "Only AfD can save Germany," he wrote, lauding the party’s stances on laws, taxes, and market deregulation.
In response to Musk’s article, Welt’s opinion editor announced her resignation on X, stating, "I cannot remain responsible for content that undermines the established democratic order."
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the current main opposition party and favorite to become the next chancellor, slammed Musk’s article as "uninvited and presumptuous." "I can’t recall a similar case of interference in the democratic process of an allied country," he added.
Katja Mast, co-chair of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), vowed fierce resistance against both state actors and wealthy individuals attempts to sway the German elections. "In the world of Elon Musk, democracy and workers’ rights are obstacles to greater profits," she said. "We clearly state: our democracy can be defended and it won’t be for sale."
Stefan welt, incoming editor-in-chief of Welt, defended the decision to publish Musk’s article, arguing that democracy and journalism thrive on the free expression of opinions, including polarizing ones.
Polls predict AfD to come in second, potentially derailing efforts to form either a center-right or center-left majority, according to Bloomberg. Keep up with crucial daily news and follow us on Google News Showcase.
