Elon Musk has sparked a political storm in Germany after voicing his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the country’s snap elections. In a series of controversial posts on X (formerly Twitter) and an opinion piece for the newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Musk praised AfD leader Alice Weidel and claimed that the party was Germany’s only hope for avoiding “economic and cultural collapse.” His comments quickly drew accusations from German officials that Musk was meddling in the upcoming elections, with some even calling it an unprecedented interference in the political affairs of a democratic nation.
Germany is gearing up for elections in February 2025 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government collapsed in December 2024. Following a no-confidence vote, the German president called for snap elections. The AfD, a Eurosceptic and anti-immigration party, has gained significant traction in recent months, with polls showing them in second place behind the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). While the mainstream parties have rejected any cooperation with AfD, Musk’s vocal support is seen by many as an attempt to influence the outcome.
Musk’s backing of right-wing figures is not new, having previously expressed support for politicians like UK’s Nigel Farage and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. His stance on AfD has ignited a fierce debate in Germany, with critics accusing him of using his platform and wealth to undermine the country’s democratic processes. The controversy escalated when Welt am Sonntag editor Eva Marie Kogel resigned in protest after the publication of Musk’s opinion piece.
