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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has responded calmly to critical remarks made by Elon Musk but expressed concern over the billionaire’s involvement in Germany’s politics, particularly his endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Musk, a close ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, called Scholz a “fool” after his coalition government collapsed in November. Musk also expressed support for the AfD in an opinion piece published in Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper, furthering his influence in the country’s political landscape.
In an interview with Stern magazine published on Saturday, Scholz, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), downplayed Musk’s personal insults, stating that such comments are not new and are often made by wealthy media figures who oppose social democratic policies. Scholz said, “You have to stay cool.”
However, Scholz emphasized that Musk’s support for the AfD was far more troubling. “I find it much more worrying than such insults that Musk is supporting a party like the AfD, which is in parts right-wing extremist, preaches rapprochement with Putin’s Russia, and seeks to weaken transatlantic relations,” he said.
The AfD, which is under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence service due to suspicions of right-wing extremism, is growing in popularity but has been shut out of cooperation with other political parties due to its far-right stance.
Germany is set for an early parliamentary election on February 23, following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition over disagreements on how to revitalize the nation’s economy.
Robert Habeck, Germany’s vice chancellor and economy minister, also expressed disapproval of Musk’s political involvement, calling for him to “hands off our democracy.” Habeck, a Green Party candidate for chancellor, argued that Musk’s combination of immense wealth, control over networks, and disregard for regulations posed a threat to Germany’s democracy.
Musk’s commentary backing the AfD ignited controversy and led to the resignation of Welt am Sonntag’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, who protested the endorsement. In his article, Musk claimed that the AfD is “the last spark of hope for this country” and justified his involvement by referencing his significant investments in Germany.
Although the AfD is polling strongly, their candidate, Alice Weidel, is unlikely to become chancellor, as other political parties refuse to form alliances with the far-right group.