German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month, leading to an early election on Feb. 23. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused a stir by backing Germany’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), in a guest opinion piece published in a major newspaper.
Musk wrote that the AfD is “the last spark of hope” for Germany and could lead the country to a future with economic prosperity, cultural integrity, and technological innovation. He also defended his investment in Germany, citing his right to comment on the country’s condition.
However, critics argue that the AfD has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor, as other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. Musk’s commentary led to a debate over free speech boundaries in German media, resulting in the resignation of the opinion editor at Welt am Sonntag.
The paper’s new editor-in-chief, Jan Philipp Burgard, criticized Musk’s approach, saying it was “fatally wrong.” A joint statement from the editor-in-chief and Burgard noted that freedom of expression is essential for democracy and journalism. Despite the controversy, they expressed their commitment to fostering debates on the topic.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/musks-backing-of-far-right-afd-party-creates-uproar-in-germany-ahead-of-key-elections