Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday reiterated his support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), calling the party the “last spark of hope” for the country. sunday world Newspaper.
His comments sparked anger among German politicians, while the country was seven weeks away from snap federal elections.
Shortly after the article went online, opinion section editor Eva Marie Kogel wrote on X that she had submitted her resignation along with a link to the comment.
What did Elon Musk say?
Musk used his comments to expand on his post on X last week, claiming that “only [the] The AfD can save Germany.” In the editorial he said the far-right party was the country’s “last spark of hope”.
“It is clearly wrong to portray the AfD as right-wing extremists, given that party leader Alice Weidel has a lesbian partner from Sri Lanka! Does this sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk said in part.
In 2021, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classified the AfD as a suspected extremist organization at the national level.
Musk further claimed that the AfD takes strong positions on issues related to economic recovery, energy supply and migration control.
“The AfD, even though it has been described as far-right, represents a political realism that resonates with many Germans who feel that their concerns have been ignored by the establishment. Addresses the problems of the time – without the political correctness that often obscures the truth,” the tech billionaire continued.
Musk also said that the AfD is “committed to a controlled immigration policy that prioritizes integration and the preservation of German culture and security. This is not about xenophobia, but about ensuring that Germany can adapt to globalization.” Don’t lose your identity in the search.”
Welt am Sonntag journalists hit back at Musk’s op-ed
Jan Philipp Burgard, future editor-in-chief of Welt Group, refuted the billionaire’s statements in his op-ed posted next to Musk’s.
Burghardt said: “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong.”
Other journalists around the world also publicly posted their disapproval on X.
Musk’s comments are being seen as sudden election timing
Musk’s support of the AfD has stunned Berlin, with some lawmakers this week accusing the SpaceX chief of meddling in German politics.
On Saturday, Jens Spahn, a former health minister and lawmaker for the center-right CDU party, wrote on X:
“Look beyond the AfD’s label, says Elon Musk. Now, let’s do this: The AfD wants to leave NATO, wants to reactivate Nord Stream 2, and is anti-US, pro-Putin, and pro-Russia. Is this it? The United States wants a Germany that turns towards Russia and away from the United States? The German economy will completely collapse, our largest trading partner.
Spahn said the AfD was also against the construction of a Tesla factory in Grünheide.
Breakup of ruling coalition likely to lead to early elections
Germany is set to hold snap elections on February 23 following the collapse of the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz last month.
The three parties in the alliance have been in disagreement for more than a year on key policy issues, including the 2025 budget.
The AfD is now in second place in opinion polls with around 19% support, while the conservative CDU/CSU coalition trails behind with more than 30%.
However, all of Germany’s mainstream parties have refused to work with the AfD at the national level.
mm/dj (AFP, dpa)
