Elon Musk sparked outrage on Friday with a post on his platform, X, declaring that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is the only group that can “save Germany.” His remarks come ahead of Germany’s federal elections on February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government last month.
Musk Criticizes CDU Leadership
Musk’s post accompanied a video criticizing Friedrich Merz, leader of the center-right CDU party and a frontrunner for the chancellorship, for refusing to collaborate with the AfD. The anti-immigration AfD, which has surged to second place in national polls, remains politically isolated as mainstream parties reject any cooperation with the controversial group.
Outrage from German Politicians
German politicians expressed strong disapproval of Musk’s comments, accusing him of interfering in the country’s election campaign. Dennis Radtke, an MEP from the CDU, called Musk’s actions “threatening, irritating, and unacceptable,” adding that it was inappropriate for a key figure in the incoming US administration to influence German politics.
“Musk has turned X into a ‘disinformation slingshot’ and is a threat to democracy in the Western world,” Radtke said in an interview with Handelsblatt.
Similarly, Alex Schaefer from Scholz’s SPD party labeled Musk’s post as “completely unacceptable” and urged Germany to stand firm against what he called meddling in its democratic processes.
Mixed Reactions and Government Response
While the AfD welcomed Musk’s endorsement with a celebratory post on X, the German government maintained a cautious stance. Christiane Hoffmann, a government spokeswoman, emphasized the importance of free speech but expressed concern over the direction X has taken under Musk’s ownership.
“We worry about how X has evolved in recent years, especially since Elon Musk’s takeover,” Hoffmann said. Despite these concerns, the government has decided to retain its accounts on the platform to ensure effective communication with the public.
Musk’s History with German Politics
This isn’t the first time Musk has commented on German political affairs. Last month, he tweeted in German that “Olaf is a fool” following the collapse of Scholz’s coalition. These repeated remarks have heightened tensions and added complexity to an already volatile political landscape in Germany.
As Germany prepares for its critical elections, Musk’s involvement has ignited debates over foreign interference and the role of social media in democratic processes.
