BERLIN. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has downplayed Elon Musk’s personal attacks on him but expressed serious concern over the billionaire’s public endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the country’s early parliamentary elections on February 23, 2025.
In an interview with Stern magazine, Scholz addressed Musk’s recent criticisms and endorsement of the AfD, stating, “You have to stay cool.” He dismissed Musk’s insults, including being called a “fool” after his three-party coalition government collapsed in November, as typical of “rich media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic politics and do not hold back with their opinions.”
However, Scholz voiced alarm over Musk’s political involvement, particularly his support for the AfD. “I find it much more worrying than such insults that Musk is supporting a party like the AfD, which is in parts right-wing extremist, which preaches rapprochement with Putin’s Russia and wants to weaken transatlantic relations,” the chancellor said.
Musk’s Political Endorsement Sparks Backlash
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and a known ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, recently stirred controversy by penning an opinion piece for the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag in which he described the AfD as “the last spark of hope for this country.” Musk justified his involvement, stating that his investments in Germany gave him the right to comment on its political state.
The endorsement caused upheaval within the German media, prompting the resignation of Welt am Sonntag opinion editor Eva Marie Kogel in protest. Musk’s comments have been widely criticized, particularly by political figures.
Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck, the Green Party’s candidate for chancellor, delivered a stern warning to Musk. “Hands off our democracy, Mr. Musk!” Habeck told Spiegel magazine. “The combination of enormous wealth, control over information and networks, the use of artificial intelligence, and the willingness to ignore rules is a frontal attack on our democracy.”
AfD Gains Momentum Amid Political Turmoil
Germany’s early parliamentary election comes after the collapse of Scholz’s coalition government, which struggled to agree on strategies to revitalize the stagnating economy. The AfD, a far-right party often criticized for its extremist rhetoric, has been polling strongly but remains politically isolated. Other parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD, making it unlikely that its candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, will ascend to the top position.
As Germany braces for the upcoming elections, Musk’s unexpected intervention has amplified debates about foreign influence and the role of wealth and technology in shaping democratic processes.
This story continues to develop as German leaders call for the integrity of the country’s electoral system to be preserved.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
