German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has brushed off Elon Musk’s personal attacks but voiced strong concerns about Musk’s endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The controversy erupted after Musk, a close ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, called Scholz a “fool” and later supported the AfD in a major German newspaper.
Scholz Reacts to Musk’s Comments
In an interview with Stern magazine, Scholz downplayed Musk’s personal remarks, stating, “There is nothing new about rich media entrepreneurs opposing social democratic policies and expressing their opinions.” However, Scholz expressed deeper concern over Musk’s backing of the AfD, a party aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin and one that Scholz believes weakens Germany’s transatlantic ties.
Scholz emphasized, “I am more worried that Musk supports a party like the AfD, which aligns with Putin and weakens transatlantic ties.” The AfD, under scrutiny from Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for suspected right-wing extremist activities, has been officially labeled as such in certain states.
Vice Chancellor Habeck Joins Criticism
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck also condemned Musk’s actions, telling Der Spiegel, “Hands off our democracy, Mr. Musk!” Habeck, who is also running for chancellor as the Green Party’s candidate, warned of the dangers posed by the combination of wealth, information control, and rule-breaking. “The combination of wealth, information control, and rule-breaking poses a direct threat to democracy,” Habeck remarked.
Musk Defends His Right to Intervene
Musk’s controversial endorsement of the AfD came in a Welt am Sonntag article, in which he referred to the party as “the last spark of hope for Germany.” The article caused a stir, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Musk, however, defended his position, arguing that his investments in Germany gave him the right to comment on the country’s politics.
AfD’s Rising Popularity and Electoral Outlook
Despite Musk’s endorsement, the AfD remains a polarizing force in German politics. While polling strongly, the party’s candidate Alice Weidel is unlikely to become chancellor, as other political parties refuse to collaborate with the far-right group. Germany will hold early elections on February 23 after the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition in November due to economic policy disputes.