BERLIN – The German government made efforts on Monday to mitigate the situation regarding Elon Musk’s recent endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has stirred considerable controversy as the country approaches its upcoming general elections.
Musk’s support for the AfD emerged over the weekend when he published an opinion piece in a prominent newspaper, sparking outrage and leading to the resignation of the publication’s opinion editor. Government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann commented on the incident, stating, “Freedom of expression also includes the greatest nonsense,” but chose not to elaborate further on Musk’s comments. However, she acknowledged that Musk seems to be attempting to influence the federal elections with his statements.
Hoffmann also noted that the AfD is under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency due to suspicions of right-wing extremism, with some states already classifying it as such. The nation’s early elections are scheduled for February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition government last month, which was primarily due to disagreements over reviving the country’s lagging economy.
In his commentary published in Welt am Sonntag, Musk reiterated his support for the AfD for the second time in the same month. He described the party as the “last spark of hope for this country,” asserting that they could usher in a future where economic success, cultural integrity, and technological advancement are not mere aspirations but attainable realities. The CEO of Tesla further stated that his investment in Germany entitles him to express his opinions about the nation’s situation.
While the AfD currently enjoys strong polling numbers, its candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, faces significant challenges as other political parties refuse to collaborate with the far-right faction. Musk, an ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, challenged the party’s negative public perception in his opinion piece, arguing that the perception of the AfD as extreme is misplaced. He pointed out that Weidel has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka, questioning if that aligns with a historical comparison to Hitler.
The backlash from Musk’s article has ignited discussions in German media regarding the limits of free speech. Eva Marie Kogel, the opinion editor who resigned, publicly announced her departure on Musk’s social media platform, X, stating her discontent with the article that was published.
Furthermore, the newspaper faced criticism from politicians and the media for allowing Musk, a foreign individual, a platform to voice his views. In contrast, an accompanying article by Jan Philipp Burgard, the incoming editor-in-chief of the Welt group, acknowledged that while some of Musk’s observations regarding Germany’s issues may be accurate, his suggestion that only the AfD can rescue the country is fundamentally misguided.
Musk’s support for the AfD emerged over the weekend when he published an opinion piece in a prominent newspaper, sparking outrage and leading to the resignation of the publication’s opinion editor. Government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann commented on the incident, stating, “Freedom of expression also includes the greatest nonsense,” but chose not to elaborate further on Musk’s comments. However, she acknowledged that Musk seems to be attempting to influence the federal elections with his statements.
Hoffmann also noted that the AfD is under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency due to suspicions of right-wing extremism, with some states already classifying it as such. The nation’s early elections are scheduled for February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition government last month, which was primarily due to disagreements over reviving the country’s lagging economy.
In his commentary published in Welt am Sonntag, Musk reiterated his support for the AfD for the second time in the same month. He described the party as the “last spark of hope for this country,” asserting that they could usher in a future where economic success, cultural integrity, and technological advancement are not mere aspirations but attainable realities. The CEO of Tesla further stated that his investment in Germany entitles him to express his opinions about the nation’s situation.
While the AfD currently enjoys strong polling numbers, its candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, faces significant challenges as other political parties refuse to collaborate with the far-right faction. Musk, an ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, challenged the party’s negative public perception in his opinion piece, arguing that the perception of the AfD as extreme is misplaced. He pointed out that Weidel has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka, questioning if that aligns with a historical comparison to Hitler.
The backlash from Musk’s article has ignited discussions in German media regarding the limits of free speech. Eva Marie Kogel, the opinion editor who resigned, publicly announced her departure on Musk’s social media platform, X, stating her discontent with the article that was published.
Furthermore, the newspaper faced criticism from politicians and the media for allowing Musk, a foreign individual, a platform to voice his views. In contrast, an accompanying article by Jan Philipp Burgard, the incoming editor-in-chief of the Welt group, acknowledged that while some of Musk’s observations regarding Germany’s issues may be accurate, his suggestion that only the AfD can rescue the country is fundamentally misguided.
