Elon Musk's planned talks with AfD leader spark German uproar
Elon Musk, the owner of Platform X, plans to engage in a conversation with Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right AfD party, ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Germany. This decision has attracted criticism from German politicians, who accuse Musk of interfering in the electoral process.
Alice Weidel's spokesperson, Daniel Tapp, confirmed that the discussion will be broadcast live on Platform X. Although the exact date has not yet been determined, it is certain that it will occur before the elections. In mid-December, Musk expressed his support for the AfD, stating that "only the AfD can save Germany." Furthermore, in one of his posts, he insulted Chancellor Olaf Scholz, referring to him as an "incompetent."
Reactions of German politicians
Politicians from mainstream parties have expressed outrage, accusing Musk of seeking to influence the election outcome. One respondent in Politico suggested that support for the AfD might be part of a broader strategy linked to Musk's close relationship with the US President-elect, Donald Trump. A spokesperson for the German government limited their response to accusing the billionaire of "trying to influence the federal election".
It remains unclear whether Musk's endorsement will affect the election results, which the CDU is projected to win according to polls. Nevertheless, questions are emerging about future cooperation between Trump and the German government, which is expected to be led by the conservative party. It is worth noting that during his first term, Trump did not hide his disdain for Germany and the then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In his New Year's address, Chancellor Olaf Scholz appealed to citizens not to succumb to external influences during the elections, emphasising that it is the citizens, not social media owners, who determine the future of the country. Early elections to the Bundestag are scheduled for 23 February.
