Musk supports AfD with text in German newspaper and generates protests

Billionaire says that ultra-right party would be the “last spark of hope” for Germany. Publication of comment causes outrage among employees of the editorial group.

A few days after endorsing the ultra-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) and less than two months before the next German federal election, billionaire Elon Musk once again defended the party in an opinion article published this Saturday (28/12) in the newspaper German Welt am Sonntag.

In the article, Musk claims that the ultra-right party would be the “last spark of hope” for Germany. “Germany has settled into mediocrity. It’s time for bold change and the AfD is the only party paving the way,” he wrote.

Musk had already made his sympathies for the AfD clear in the past, when interacting with AfD politicians on the X network and questioning police surveillance of the party. In November, Musk had also called the current Federal Chancellor, the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, a “fool”. A week ago, he endorsed the party, which appears with around 19% of voting intentions in polls and with a chance of forming the second largest group of deputies in the German Parliament (Bundestag).

In the article published this Saturday, the billionaire states that Germany is on the verge of “economic and cultural collapse” and that, as he is an “important investor” in the country, he has the right to express his political position. In 2022, Musk opened a Tesla factory in the German state of Brandenburg, near Berlin. The construction of the space was marked by controversy. The work began even before the environmental licensing was issued.

The Grünheide factory has around 12 thousand employees. Tesla is Brandenburg’s largest private employer. The factory, however, is often the target of controversies, such as criticism from environmentalists about the felling of trees to expand the plant and the large consumption of water, in addition to reports that address allegations of harassment, disorganization and poor working conditions.

In the article, Musk states that he supports the AfD due to its approaches that seek to “reduce excessive regulations, reduce taxes and deregulate the market”, principles that, according to him, would be the basis of the success of Tesla and SpaceX. “Once the engine of Europe, the German economy sinks into bureaucracy and oppressive regulations,” he wrote.

Musk claims AfD is not extremist

The billionaire also said that the ultra-right party supposedly defends “a controlled immigration policy that prioritizes the integration and preservation of German culture”. In his opinion, this view would not be xenophobic, it is simply aimed at preventing the loss of Germany’s “identity” in “its quest for globalization”.

Musk still sees traditional parties as failures, whose policies have led to “economic stagnation, social unrest and erosion of national identity.” He further claimed that the AfD is not a right-wing extremist party, arguing that the party’s leader, Alice Weidel, has a Sri Lankan partner. “Does that sound like Hitler? Oh please,” he wrote.

Contrary to what Musk preaches, the AfD is routinely accused of harboring neo-Nazis, in addition to having several state directorates classified as “right-wing extremists” by intelligence services, which closely monitor the activities of its members.

In its recent history, the party has transformed into a radical political force, fighting fiercely against Islam, immigration and political asylum; denying climate change; and smearing his opponents with insults and conspiracy theories. In January, the revelation of plans by party members to expel or deport Germans, if they come from immigrant families, sparked protests across the country.

Outrage in the newspaper

Alongside Musk’s article, the newspaper published an opinion piece by future Welt group editor-in-chief Jan Philipp Burgard titled Why Musk supports the AfD and why he is wrong in doing so. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach that only the AfD could save Germany is fatally wrong,” he said.

Burgard argued that Musk ignored the geopolitical context in which the AfD wants to position Germany, such as, for example, the exit from the European Union (EU) defended by the party. “That would be a catastrophe for the exporting nation of Germany,” he says.

The journalist adds that a rapprochement like Russia and a return to “dependence on Russian gas”, as the acronym wishes, will not save Germany. “The AfD is much more of a threat to our values ​​and our economy.” About Musk, Burgard writes: “a genius can also be mistaken.”

Elon Musk e Donald Trump

The publication of Musk’s article sparked outrage among journalists in the editorial group. The head of the opinion section of the newspapers Welt and Welt am Sonntag, Eva Marie Kogel, stated that the comment was unacceptable and resigned over the publication. Other journalists from the group also published comments on social media repudiating the newspaper’s decision.

According to reports in the German press, the publication of Musk’s article generated a huge controversy in the newsroom on Christmas Eve, with a fight during the agenda meeting. The group’s editorial committee even issued a warning about the decision.

Speaking to the German news agency dpa, the editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and his successor, Burgard, defended the publication of the article in a statement. “Democracy and journalism live on freedom of opinion”, they stated, adding that this included confronting polarizing positions and classifying them journalistically.

Musk in the world in 2024

Musk’s endorsement of the AfD adds to other episodes recorded in 2024 in which the billionaire of South African origin became involved in political issues. In the US, he openly declared his support for the election of Republican Donald Trump, in the wake of the assassination attempt in July.

Musk ended up directing millions of dollars to the campaign, even leading local efforts to win votes, especially in the state of Pennsylvania. Some of these efforts have even raised accusations of vote buying.

The billionaire was also involved in legal disputes in Brazil, directing criticism at the Federal Supreme Court. It also led to clashes with the Australian government, after the country’s authorities promoted a bill to try to curb the spread of misinformation on social networks.

More recently, Musk has also turned his attention to the United Kingdom, publishing criticism of Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The billionaire also opened negotiations to direct values ​​to the right-wing populist Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, which opposes Starmer. Farage and Musk met this week at one of Trump’s properties in Florida. The announcement of the negotiations caused alarm among British politicians, fearful that a large donation from Musk to Reform UK could unbalance the party game, marked by lean and cheap campaigns.

Originally published by DW on 12/28/2024