Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and an adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, has reaffirmed his stance in favor of Germany’s far-right party.
In an op-ed published in a leading German newspaper, Musk called the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, “the last spark of hope for this country. “He praised his positions on immigration and government regulation, among other things.
“The AfD advocates a controlled immigration policy that prioritizes integration and the preservation of German culture and security. This is not about xenophobia, but about ensuring that Germany does not lose its identity in the pursuit of globalization,” Musk wrote. “It will have to maintain its core values and cultural heritage to remain strong and united. “
The Welt am Sonntag newspaper published an opinion article on Saturday together with an opposition article written by Welt’s chief television editor. The newspaper’s editor-in-chief resigned in response, citing the publication of Musk’s article. Both Welt am Sonntag and Business Insider are owned by Axel Springer SE.
Germany will hold elections in February after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote previous this month, paving the way for early elections. Long a marginal political party, the AfD is gaining popularity in Germany thank you to its anti-immigration program.
Musk said in his opinion piece that the party “resonates with many Germans who feel their concerns are being ignored by the establishment,” adding that the “portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false.”
He also praised the party for supporting tax cuts and economic deregulation, and he called for a more balanced energy approach that includes nuclear energy.
Tesla has a factory in Berlin that makes battery cells and Model Y cars.
“As someone who has made significant investments in the German business and technology landscape, I have the right to speak out about its political direction,” Musk wrote.
After publishing the op-ed, Musk reposted a series of comments on X, his social media platform, praising the AfD. One article accused Europe and the United States of abusing the “far-right” label.
Last week, Musk called Scholz an “incompetent fool” and added that the chancellor resigned following an attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg that left five other people dead. Musk shared a post on X suggesting that the attack was a result of immigration. Police knew the suspect arrested as a Saudi citizen who had sought political asylum in Germany.
“We have freedom of opinion; that also applies to billionaires, but freedom of opinion also means that you can say things that are correct and that imply intelligent political advice,” Scholz said in response, according to the Associated Press.
Editor’s note: Business Insider is owned by Axel Springer, owner of the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
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