Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and owner of X, has stirred controversy in Germany by providing a prominent platform to Alice Weidel, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s candidate for chancellor in the upcoming snap election.
Hosting Weidel on X: A game-changer
Musk is set to host a live interview with Weidel on X, offering the far-right party a level of visibility long denied by Germany’s political and media establishment. Critics argue this move lends legitimacy to a party that has been ostracized for its extremist rhetoric and policies.
The AfD, polling second nationally with support from about 20% of the electorate, has faced consistent exclusion from coalition politics due to its far-right stance. The party is under surveillance by German intelligence agencies for its links to extremism, with its youth wing and several state chapters officially classified as right-wing extremist.
Musk’s endorsement of the AfD
In December, Musk publicly supported the AfD, reposting a video by German conservative influencer Naomi Seibt. In an opinion piece for Die Welt, Musk dismissed accusations of extremism against the AfD, highlighting Weidel’s same-sex partnership with a Sri Lankan woman as evidence of the party’s supposed inclusivity.
“The portrayal of the AfD as far-right is clearly wrong,” Musk wrote. “Does that sound like Hitler to you? Come on!”
Reactions from Germany and the EU
Germany’s political class has reacted with alarm. Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Musk’s actions, advising against engaging with his provocations. “Don’t feed the troll,” Scholz said.
European leaders have also expressed concern. Center-left parties have urged the European Commission to investigate Musk’s influence over European politics through X, citing risks to democracy and potential misinformation.
Potential impacts on the election
While German voters remain skeptical of Musk’s involvement—75% of respondents in a recent poll deemed his comments inappropriate—a majority believe his actions could benefit the AfD in the February election.
Musk’s unprecedented intervention has sparked debates about the role of tech billionaires in shaping political landscapes, particularly in regions with a fraught history of extremism.
