By Christopher F. Schuetze
Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally and a key advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, surprised many in Germany this month by supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which is being monitored by domestic intelligence for extremist activities.
Last week, Musk further involved himself in the country’s sudden election, detailing in an opinion essay for a newspaper why he perceives the far-right party as the “last glimmer of hope” for Germany.
“The traditional parties have let down Germany,” Musk stated in remarks published online by the daily Welt on Saturday. “Their policies have brought about economic stagnation, social unrest, and the decline of national identity.”
Musk’s article arrives as Germany prepares for a challenging winter election following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition in November. On Friday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially declared the disbandment of parliament and scheduled new elections for February 23.
With four mainstream and three extremist parties on both sides competing for parliamentary seats and governmental roles, polls show the conservative Christian Democratic Union in the lead. Nevertheless, the AfD, with its anti-immigrant agenda, is polling in second position, capturing approximately 20%.
Musk’s commentary was featured in the Sunday edition of the Welt, a conservative daily owned by the Axel Springer media group, which also operates Politico in the United States. Numerous journalists at the publication protested the inclusion of the commentary, according to reports. Eva Marie Kogel, who was the head of opinion at the paper, resigned following its publication, as she confirmed on the social platform X.
In what appears to be a recognition that Musk’s views on the AfD might be contentious, the paper included a response from Jan Philipp Burgard, editor-in-chief-designate, on the same page.
“Musk’s assessment is accurate, but his proposed remedy, that only the AfD can rescue Germany, is severely flawed,” he wrote.
Musk, who actively supported Trump during the U.S. presidential campaign, has also been known to influence political campaigns abroad. He has engaged with and backed right-wing movements in both Italy and the United Kingdom in recent months.
The provocative nature of Musk’s support for the AfD in Germany partially mirrors the party’s political positioning, deemed so far-right that it is seen as anti-democratic. All other political factions in Germany have ruled out collaborating with the AfD.
Following news that AfD members participated in a meeting with an Austrian extreme-right figure who has called for mass deportations of migrants, tens of thousands of Germans protested earlier this year. Last spring and summer, Björn Höcke, a state leader within the party, was convicted twice for employing banned Nazi-era slogans during campaign events. Parts of the party, including its entire youth wing, are classified as extremist by domestic intelligence.
In his editorial, Musk dismissed any concerns regarding the party being too far-right by referencing the personal life of the party’s leading candidate. “The characterization of the AfD as far-right is clearly misguided given that Alice Weidel, the party leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that seem like Hitler to you? Come on!” he asserted.
For the AfD, Musk’s endorsement is seen as a potential advantage, although it remains uncertain whether his initial post on X influenced the party’s polling. The party has been sharing excerpts of the text on social media.
