On the eve of the German elections, "Elon Musk VS the German establishment" escalates
Elon Musk commented in a mainstream German newspaper that the far-right party AfD is "Germany's last hope," and expressed support for the party's economic and immigration policies. Friedrich Merz, who is most likely to become the next Chancellor of Germany, condemned Musk's actions as "domineering and arrogant," stating, "I do not recall any similar cases in the history of Western democracies where there was interference in the elections of friendly countries."
Elon Musk's political ambitions are not limited to the United States; he has also crossed the Atlantic to offer guidance on Germany's internal affairs, and his support for the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) has caused a stir.
According to media reports, as the German elections approach, Musk wrote a column supporting the AfD in the mainstream German newspaper "Welt am Sonntag." In the article, Musk referred to the AfD as "Germany's last hope" and expressed agreement with the party's economic and immigration policies.
Before this article was published, Musk had already stated on social media platform X that "only the AfD can save Germany." This public commentary further escalated the controversy.
Friedrich Merz, who is most likely to become the next German Chancellor, condemned Musk's praise for the AfD, calling it "domineering and arrogant." He stated, "I do not recall any similar cases in the history of Western democracies where there was interference in the elections of friendly countries."
This is not Musk's first public support for far-right parties in Europe. He has previously praised Italian far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and supported Brexit politician Nigel Farage.
"Germany's Last Hope"
In the article, Musk discussed various topics that Germany needs to address amid its "economic and cultural collapse," adding that due to his "significant investments" in Germany's technology and industrial sectors, he has the "right" to comment on the country's political climate.
Musk believes that the German economy is hindered by excessive regulation and bureaucracy, and he agrees with the AfD's policies of deregulation, tax cuts, and reducing red tape:
The Alternative for Germany understands that economic freedom is not only desirable but necessary. Its approach to reducing government overreach, cutting taxes, and deregulating the market reflects the principles of success for Tesla and SpaceX.
If Germany wishes to restore its industrial strength, it needs a party that not only talks about growth but also takes policy actions to create an environment where businesses can thrive without heavy government intervention.
Musk also refuted the claim that the AfD is a far-right party, pointing out that the party's co-leader Alice Weidel has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka. He wrote, "Does this sound like Hitler to you? Please!"
Musk believes the AfD represents a form of "political realism," reflecting the concerns of many Germans who feel ignored by the establishment. Musk concluded that the Alternative for Germany is the country's "last hope."
"Domineering and Arrogant"
Germany will hold elections on February 23, 2025, and currently, the AfD ranks second in polls with about 19% support, just behind the conservative CDU/CSU alliance.
Despite the rising support for the AfD, Germany's mainstream parties have unanimously stated their refusal to cooperate with the AfD at the federal level. Domestic intelligence agencies have classified most AfD members as extremists and are monitoring them.
Friedrich Merz, who is most likely to become the next German Chancellor, condemned Musk for praising the AfD in his commentary, calling it "domineering and arrogant." Merz stated to the media on Sunday, "I do not recall any similar cases in the history of Western democracies where there was interference in the elections of friendly countries." The co-chair of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Saskia Esken, emphasized: "Our democracy can defend itself and cannot be bought." Senior Green Party member Andreas Audretsch pointed out: "When people like Musk undermine our democratic discourse, it harms our democracy."
After Musk's op-ed was published, Eva Marie Kogel, editor of the opinion section at Die Welt, announced her resignation on X:
"I have always enjoyed being in charge of the opinion sections of Die Welt and Welt am Sonntag. Today, an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. After this article was printed yesterday, I submitted my resignation."