German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, while dismissing Elon Musk's personal attacks as routine, expressed concern over the billionaire's endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the upcoming election. Scholz stated that while such criticism from wealthy media figures is unsurprising, Musk's active involvement in the election, particularly supporting a party with questionable ideologies, is a more significant issue.
Following Musk's controversial opinion piece backing the AfD, Scholz maintained a composed stance, telling German magazine Stern, "You have to stay cool." Musk's criticism stemmed from the recent collapse of Scholz's coalition government, with the billionaire calling the chancellor a "fool."
Scholz's apprehension centers on the AfD's perceived extremism. The party, already under scrutiny by German intelligence agencies for suspected right-wing extremism and ties to pro-Putin positions, risks weakening transatlantic alliances.
The upcoming February 23rd election, triggered by the coalition's collapse in November, comes as the AfD has gained popularity, although Alice Weidel, the AfD's candidate for Chancellor, faces an uphill battle due to other parties' reluctance to cooperate.
Musk's opinion piece, published in Welt am Sonntag, and subsequent comments highlight the controversy surrounding his investment in Germany and perceived influence in national politics, even sparking the resignation of the newspaper's opinion editor. This incident underscores the impact of high-profile endorsements on the election's trajectory.
