German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said recent attacks on Elon Musk and the country’s other leading politicians have not affected him or the country’s democracy. But he expressed concern about the involvement of wealthy Americans in the general election through support for the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
“As social democrats, we are familiar from the last century with the fact that there are rich media entrepreneurs who do not value social democratic politics and do not keep their opinions to themselves,” Scholz told Stern magazine. spoke.
“After all, it’s nothing new. We need to remain calm,” he added.
Musk, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, labeled the prime minister a “stupid” after the coalition government collapsed in November. Later, he caused further controversy by supporting the AfD in an editorial published in Germany’s major newspaper Welt am Sonntag, prompting the paper’s editor-in-chief Eva Marie Kogel to resign in protest.
“Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” Musk wrote in a translated commentary. He justified his comments by citing his investments in Germany as a basis for expressing his opinions on national politics.
“I think support for AfD is far more concerning than Mr. Musk’s insults,” Scholz said, “especially given that the party has elements of right-wing extremism and close ties with President Putin’s Russia.” “This is especially true when it seeks to undermine transatlantic relations by insisting on
Germany’s domestic intelligence services are monitoring the AfD for suspected right-wing extremism, and the party is already classified as such in certain federal states.
The early parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 23, come after Scholz’s three-party coalition government collapsed in November over disagreements over how to revive Germany’s stagnant economy.
Despite strong opinion polls, AfD candidate Alice Weidel is unlikely to become prime minister as other parties have firmly ruled out cooperation with far-right parties.
Discover the benefits of subscription!
Stay informed with access to our award-winning journalism.
Avoid misinformation with reliable, accurate reporting.
Make smarter decisions with key insights.
Choose your subscription package
