Politicians from the German government and the opposition have sharply criticized American billionaire Elon Musk after his publication in the German newspaper “Welt“, in which he expressed support for the right-wing party “Alternative for Germany“ (AfG), BTA reports.
Musk's actions have raised concerns about “intrusive foreign influence“ on the upcoming German elections on February 23, Reuters reported.
In the article, which expands on ideas from his post on the social media site “Ex“, Musk states:
“Only the AfD can save Germany“, by supporting the party's policy positions on issues such as taxes, deregulation and laws.
Political reactions
- Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz described the article as “intrusive and pretentious“ and added that he did not remember a similar case of foreign interference in the history of Western democracies.
- Saskia Esken, co-chair of Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party, pledged resistance to all attempts at external influence, whether by state actors or wealthy individuals. “Our democracy can be protected and cannot be bought“, she stressed.
Journalistic debate
The publication sparked internal conflict within the editorial staff of “Welt“. The editor of the “Opinions“ column resigned in disagreement, while the future editor-in-chief of the publication defended the decision, stating that the free expression of opinions, including those of polarizing figures like Musk, is a fundamental pillar of democracy.
Influence on the elections
Predictions of a strong performance by the AfD, which is expected to come in second place in the elections, underline the political stakes. The main centrist parties are adamant in their refusal to work with the AfD at the national level, and Musk's intervention has further polarized the political atmosphere in Germany.
The debate continues to divide opinion over the extent to which public figures like Musk should be involved in the domestic politics of other countries and what impact such statements have on the democratic process.