German Government Accuses Elon Musk of Attempting to Influence Federal Elections

The German government has accused US billionaire Elon Musk of trying to sway the upcoming federal elections scheduled for late February. This comes after Musk's repeated endorsements of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Government's Response

Christiane Hoffmann, deputy spokesperson for the German government, stated during a regular press briefing that "Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal elections through his statements". While acknowledging Musk's right to express his opinion, Hoffmann emphasized that his support equates to "an electoral recommendation for a party that is under surveillance" by German domestic intelligence.

Musk's Controversial Statements

Musk's involvement in German politics has escalated recently:

• On December 20, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "only the AfD can save Germany".
• On Saturday, the German newspaper Die Welt published an op-ed by Musk, where he called the AfD "the last spark of hope" for Germany.
• Musk has also personally attacked Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling him an "incompetent fool" after a recent terror attack in Magdeburg.

Political Reactions

The billionaire's interventions have drawn sharp criticism from across the German political spectrum:

• Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), compared Musk's actions to those of Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing both of wanting to "weaken Germany and plunge it into chaos".
• Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative opposition CDU/CSU, described Musk's AfD endorsement as "intrusive and presumptuous", calling it unprecedented interference in an allied country's election campaign.

AfD's Position

The AfD is currently polling at 19% in the latest surveys, placing it second behind the CDU/CSU opposition at 32%. However, the party remains controversial, with various branches labeled as "extremist" by Germany's domestic security agency.

Broader Implications

Musk's involvement in German politics comes as he is set to take on a role as an advisor in the incoming Trump administration in the US[8]. This has raised concerns about the growing influence of tech billionaires on global politics and the potential need for stricter regulations on social media platforms to limit their political power.

As Germany prepares for its federal elections on February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Scholz's coalition government, the controversy surrounding Musk's statements highlights the complex interplay between international influence, social media, and national politics in modern democracies.