German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indirectly criticized Elon Musk's involvement in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, cautioning against external influence. The remarks, delivered in his New Year's address, highlight concerns over social media's role in shaping political outcomes.
Scholz, speaking from Berlin, emphasized that the upcoming February 23rd elections will be determined by German citizens, not by social media platform owners. This statement follows a period of political instability in Germany, with the chancellor having recently lost a confidence vote that collapsed his coalition government.
The Chancellor's comments also addressed the intensity of current political debate, where he noted that extreme opinions sometimes garner significant attention. Despite this, Scholz stressed that the nation's direction will be determined by "the vast majority of reasonable and decent people," not by those with the loudest voices.
This criticism is a response to Musk's recent endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Musk's support for AfD, expressed in a German newspaper op-ed, cited his significant investments in the country, although this intervention has been widely condemned, and even led to the resignation of a German opinion editor.
Government officials have openly accused Musk of attempting to sway the election. While acknowledging his right to express opinions, they criticized the attempt to influence the vote. Despite the criticism, the Chancellor reaffirmed the importance of civic engagement in shaping the future of Germany.
