Elon Musk's post on social media supporting the far-right German party "Alternative for Germany" has sparked backlash and accusations of election interference.
Musk, wrote on platform X that AfD is the only party capable of "saving Germany." This provoked sharp outrage from politicians across the spectrum.
Alice Weidel, the AfD's chancellor candidate, enthusiastically welcomed Musk's support.
She responded: "Yes! You are absolutely right, @elonmusk! Please check out my interview about President Trump, Merkel's socialist legacy, the destructive Soviet European Union, and Germany's economic decline!"
However, leading German politicians expressed their indignation.
Dennis Radtke, a Member of the European Parliament from the center-right CDU party, called Musk's comments "irritating and unacceptable," accusing the billionaire of interfering in Germany's elections.
According to German media, Radtke also labeled Musk a "threat to democracy" and criticized X as a platform for spreading misinformation.
RelatedAlex Schaefer from the center-left SPD condemned Musk's statements as "completely unacceptable," emphasizing the importance of standing firmly against foreign interference.
Meanwhile, former Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP acknowledged that Musk had influenced some of his political views in the past but warned him against supporting AfD. "AfD stands against freedom, business, and democracy - it is a far-right extremist party," wrote Lindner on his Twitter.
Later, Musk emphasized his stance, stating that AfD represents "common-sense politics" and dismissed the "far-right label."
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose government collapsed last month over budget disputes, took a more measured position.
He affirmed Musk's right to express his opinion, adding that "freedom of speech includes the freedom to be wrong."
The controversy erupted as Germany prepares for the upcoming elections on February 23, following the collapse of Scholz's coalition government.
Political leaders across Germany unanimously reject any cooperation with AfD, highlighting the party's controversial status in the political landscape.