Comment where Elon Musk explained why he supports the German party Alternative for Germany (AfD)appeared in the newspaper “Welt am Sonntag”. Billionaire z United States he emphasized, among other things, that “presenting AfD as right-wing extremism is obviously false, given that party leader Alice Weidel has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka (…)”.
Earlier, Musk wrote online that only the Alternative for Germany could save him Germany. The American's comment appeared before the upcoming Bundestag elections, which are to be held on February 23 next year. German politicians commented on Musk's position.
Elon Musk supported AfD. German politicians react to the billionaire's comment
Friedrich Merz from the Christian Democratic Party (CDU), who is the favorite to replace Olaf Scholza as Chancellor of Germany, assessed Elon Musk's comment as “pushy and pretentious”.
– I don't remember a comparable case interference in the election campaign friendly country in the history of Western democracies – he said in an interview.
In turn, co-chair of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Saskia Esken announced resistance to attempts by state entities, as well as wealthy and influential people, to influence the elections to the Bundestag. – In Elon Musk's world, democracy and workers' rights are an obstacle on the way to greater profits – she said in an interview with Reuters.
– We say clearly: Our democracy is defensible and cannot be bought – Esken emphasized.
Germany is getting ready for elections. Elon Musk explains his support for AfD
After the publication of Elon Musk's text, which caused quite a storm in the German media, the head of the opinion department of “Die Welt” and “Welt am Sonntag” Eva Marie Kogel she resigned from her job.
In his extensive commentary, the American billionaire said that – in his opinion – the AfD “supports a policy of controlled immigration that gives priority to integration and the preservation of German culture and security.” He added that the point is so that Germany does not lose its identity “in the pursuit of globalization”.
“AfD, even if it is described as far right, represents a political realism that appeals to many Germans who feel their concerns are ignored by the establishment. The group raises current issues without political correctnesswhich often obscures the truth,” Musk argued.