Tech billionaire Elon Musk subsidized Alternative for Germany on Friday, saying Germany’s far-right political party is the only one capable of saving Germany before the February election and marking Musk’s latest demonstration of the political right this week. .
Musk said in a tweet: “Only the AfD can save Germany,” praising the politician known for his anti-immigration, anti-Islam and nationalist political positions.
Musk’s endorsement garnered at least 30 million views and more than 100,000 likes.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters on Friday that freedom of speech in Germany “applies to billionaires” before lashing out at Musk, saying that “freedom of speech also means that you can say things that are fair and that involve intelligent political advice.
Musk’s task comes two months before Germany’s federal election, which was postponed before 2025 after Scholz recently lost a vote of confidence and the country’s governing coalition fell.
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Founded in 2013, Alternative for Germany took advantage of the 2015 refugee crisis in Europe and its country’s economic problems, promoting nationalist and anti-immigration policies and a stance opposed to Islam. The party is under surveillance by German intelligence on suspicion of extremism and announced last month that it would expel from its ranks 3 members accused of participating in an extremist organization suspected of planning an armed revolt against the German government. Despite its misleading reputation, Alternative for Germany has managed to gain some popularity, having recently become the first far-right party to win a German national election since the Nazi era.
19%. That is the percentage of German citizens who view the Alternative for Germany favorably, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center, which indicates that the figure is the highest ever recorded in eight years of research on the subject. However, a large majority of Germans (79%) have a negative view of the party, according to the think tank.
Musk spent much of the week giving his opinion on American politics, wielding his political influence as one of President-elect Donald Trump’s closest supporters and advisers. The tech billionaire, who has no official position in the Trump administration, posted a long series of tweets. rejecting a government investment bill introduced this week and introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. , to avert an imminent government shutdown. Musk said the bill, which ultimately faded after scrutiny from him and Trump, failed to pass, calling it “one of the worst expenses ever written. “Democratic lawmakers, adding House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N. Y. , and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Va. , criticized Musk for his comments, with Sanders tweeting, “Billionaires will not be allowed to run our government. “
House rejects investment bill as shutdown nears, and Trump says it’s Biden’s challenge (Forbes)
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