Elon Musk’s Post on X Sparks Accusations of Interfering in German Elections
Far-Right AfD Party Celebrates Musk’s Praise
A post from Elon Musk on his platform X that only the far-right AfD party can “save Germany” has sparked accusations that he is seeking to interfere in the country’s upcoming polls. The tech billionaire posted the message over a video commentary that criticised the leader of Germany’s CDU party Friedrich Merz, on course to become the next chancellor, for his refusal to work with the AfD.
Mainstream Parties React with Outrage
The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) has enjoyed a surge in the polls, and is currently second-placed, but mainstream parties have ruled out cooperating with it. While the German government refused to be drawn on the comments by Musk, set to be “efficiency czar” under US President-elect Donald Trump, politicians from major parties reacted with outrage.
“It is Threatening, Irritating and Unacceptable”
Dennis Radtke, an MEP for the centre-right CDU, told the Handelsblatt daily, “It is threatening, irritating and unacceptable for a key figure in the future US government to interfere in the German election campaign.” Radtke accused the world’s richest man of turning X, previously called Twitter, into a “disinformation slingshot” and warned that Musk was a “threat to democracy in the Western world”.
Government Refuses to Comment
The German government was reluctant to be drawn into commenting on Musk’s post, with a spokeswoman telling a regular press conference in Berlin that “freedom of expression also applies to X”. However, the spokeswoman, Christiane Hoffmann, added that the government was worried about “how X has developed in recent years, especially since Elon Musk took over”.
AfD Celebrates Musk’s Praise
The AfD however celebrated Musk’s praise in its own X message, which said “millions of people have long recognised this — and the number is growing”. The party has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years, capitalising on anti-immigrant sentiment and criticism of mainstream parties.
Background: German Elections and Government Collapse
Germans are set to go to the polls on February 23 after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition last month in a row over the budget. The collapse has led to a period of political uncertainty, with no clear favourite to succeed Scholz.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s post on X has sparked a heated debate in Germany, with accusations of interference in the upcoming elections and concerns about the impact of social media on democracy. The German government has refused to comment, but politicians from major parties have spoken out against Musk’s comments. The outcome of the elections remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the role of social media in shaping public opinion will continue to be a major issue in the coming years.
FAQs
Q: What did Elon Musk say in his post on X?
A: Musk posted that only the far-right AfD party can “save Germany” and criticised the leader of Germany’s CDU party Friedrich Merz for his refusal to work with the AfD.
Q: How did mainstream parties react to Musk’s post?
A: Politicians from major parties reacted with outrage, accusing Musk of interfering in the German election campaign and turning X into a “disinformation slingshot”.
Q: What is the background to the German elections?
A: The German government collapsed last month in a row over the budget, leading to a period of political uncertainty and a call for new elections on February 23.
Q: What is the significance of Elon Musk’s post on X?
A: Musk’s post has sparked a heated debate in Germany, with accusations of interference in the upcoming elections and concerns about the impact of social media on democracy.