Elon Musk, a close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump and the world’s richest man, sparked outrage in Germany by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany party. The party is under surveillance due to its extremist views.
Musk recently published an opinion piece in which he claimed the traditional parties have failed Germany and that the AfD is the “last spark of hope”. He argued that their policies led to economic stagnation, social unrest, and erosion of national identity.
Germany’s snap election was announced after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition collapsed in November. The conservative Christian Democratic Union is currently leading polls, but the AfD is polling second with around 20% support.
The endorsement has been met with criticism from many journalists at Welt, who protested the publication of Musk’s piece. Eva Marie Kogel, head of opinion, resigned after it was printed.
Musk has a history of supporting right-wing causes in Italy and the UK. The AfD’s stance is considered anti-democratic, and other parties have refused to work with them.
The endorsement reflects the party’s extreme views, which have led to protests and convictions of its members. Musk attempted to downplay criticism by pointing to Alice Weidel’s private life, but his statement was seen as insensitive and dismissive.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/28/world/europe/musk-support-for-german-far-right-afd.html