Germany accuses Elon Musk of interfering in election by supporting far-right AfD party
SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk participates in a town hall-style meeting to promote early and absentee voting at Ridley High School on October 17, 2024. (AFP Photo)
The German government accused U.S. business magnate Elon Musk on Monday of attempting to influence the country’s election campaign by reaffirming his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann stated at a press briefing in Berlin that while Musk is free to express his opinion, he is effectively trying to influence the federal election through his statements.
“Elections are decided by the voters when they vote and are a German matter,” Hoffmann emphasized.
Musk, who also owns social media platform X, wrote a guest editorial in the German daily WELT newspaper voicing his support for the AfD.
While acknowledging that “freedom of expression is a valuable asset,” Hoffmann noted that it is not necessary to share Musk’s viewpoint. She pointed out that Musk had endorsed voting for a party that is being monitored by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as a potential right-wing extremist group.
On Dec. 20, Musk, who is set to serve as an advisor to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, wrote on X that “only the AfD can save Germany.”
Musk also insulted Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling him an “incompetent fool” following a deadly terror attack in Magdeburg.
The AfD is currently running second in national surveys and may disrupt either a center-right or center-left majority. However, Germany’s mainstream, centrist parties have vowed not to form a coalition with the AfD at the national level.
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