Elon Musk's AfD endorsement sparks German political uproar
Elon Musk, by supporting the German far-right, has sparked numerous controversies, including attacks on individual German politicians. His statements raise questions about the limits of free speech in the context of German defamation laws.
Elon Musk, a well-known entrepreneur and owner of Tesla, has stirred up a storm in German politics with his controversial statements. His support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and attacks on German political leaders, including President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have caused outrage.
Musk called Steinmeier an "anti-democratic tyrant" on the X platform. He also claimed that the politician will certainly lose the election. The billionaire, who has recently been commenting frequently on German politics, emphasizes that only the AfD is the salvation for this country.
Elon Musk strikes at German democracy, supports right-wing AfD
"The social market economy has been and remains the foundation of the success of the German economic model," writes "Handelsblatt". Such an economic system is not only the basis of economic prosperity in Germany but also a pillar supporting social cohesion and, thus, democracy. Our thriving model is currently under pressure from a country that is actually our ally," comments the journal.
"Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" comments: "Calling the President of Germany a 'tyrant' disqualifies itself and is not without a certain comical aspect. Brazen arrogance is, after all, a hallmark of the Musk-Trump political empire, which spares itself from looking into the constitution," summarizes the newspaper.
According to "Straubinger Tagblatt": "Musk is an uncouth lout. German politicians should not let him lead them by the nose. The more outraged they are by his statements, the more provoked he will feel. (...) He is not the problem. If citizens vote for the AfD, it's certainly not because a rich, uncouth boor from America is urging them to do so, but because they disagree with what the grand coalition, and later the 'traffic light' government (a popular name for Olaf Scholz's coalition government), have done. One-third of respondents complain about the declining standard of living."
"According to a recent survey, only 17 percent of respondents believe their economic situation will improve in the new year. People don't need Musk to realize that something is wrong in this country. If the next government doesn't implement actual change in policy, democracy will be in real danger," points out "Straubinger Tagblatt".
Politicians in Germany are increasingly taking legal steps against insults on social media. For example, Economy Minister Robert Habeck decided to take legal action after offensive comments. Nonetheless, many politicians, including those insulted by Musk, are not reporting such incidents.
A meeting between Musk and AfD leader Alice Weidel may soon take place, which could further exacerbate the situation. The AfD plans to organize a conversation on the X-Space platform, which could be part of their election campaign.
