Germany’s government has accused Tesla CEO Elon Musk of attempting to interfere in the country’s upcoming election after he publicly endorsed the far-right political party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The controversy erupted after Musk’s remarks sparked criticism from various political leaders and officials, who expressed concern over his influence on the country’s democratic processes.
Christiane Hoffmann, a government spokesperson, confirmed that Musk’s statements were viewed as an attempt to influence the federal election.
She pointed out that although Musk was entitled to his personal opinion, his endorsement of a party under surveillance for being right-wing extremist was deeply troubling.
The AfD, which has been associated with extremist elements, is being monitored by Germany’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), strongly condemned Musk’s comments. He accused the billionaire of trying to destabilise Germany’s democracy by supporting the AfD ahead of the snap elections.
Klingbeil drew a comparison between Musk and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that both were working to weaken Germany’s political system. Klingbeil argued that the endorsement of the AfD, which he described as an enemy of democracy, was a deliberate effort to create chaos in the country.
He called for stricter regulations on internet platforms, like Musk’s social media service, X, to prevent foreign interference in elections.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), also criticised Musk’s support for the AfD, stating that it was an unprecedented example of foreign interference in German politics.
Merz expressed concern over the potential economic damage caused by AfD policies, particularly their call for Germany to leave the European Union. He argued that such a move would be disastrous for the country’s economy.
Merz also pointed out that Musk had failed to acknowledge the AfD’s radical policies when he made his endorsement.
The controversy began last week when Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to publicly support the AfD. In his post, he disputed claims that the AfD was a right-wing extremist party, referencing party leader Alice Weidel’s same-sex partner as evidence of the party’s alleged tolerance.
Musk’s statement was widely seen as dismissive of the party’s extreme positions, and many interpreted his comments as an attempt to normalise the AfD’s controversial policies.
In addition to his support for the AfD, Musk has also made derogatory comments about German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He referred to Scholz as a “fool” in a post on X, following the collapse of his three-party coalition government.
This was part of a broader political crisis in Germany that led to a confidence vote on December 16, which Scholz lost. The vote resulted in Germany being forced into snap elections scheduled for February 23.
Scholz, who has been in office since 2021, was unable to secure enough support in the Bundestag, leaving him short of the majority needed to remain in power.
Scholz’s government faced significant challenges during its tenure, and his leadership will be put to the test in the upcoming elections. He has framed the election as a choice between continuing his government’s policies of growth and investment or opting for austerity measures proposed by the conservatives.
Scholz has committed to investing in Germany’s infrastructure, a key issue given the country’s ageing systems, and has vowed not to make the spending cuts that many conservatives advocate.
Credit: Newsarenaindia
