Political unrest in Germany
Political unrest in Germany
Political unrest in Germany
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This is not the first online intervention by Elon Musk, the businessman and advisor to Donald Trump, on behalf of once-fringe anti-immigration parties in Europe.
By Christopher F. Schuetze and Mark Landler
Christopher Schuetze reported from Berlin and Mark Landler from London.
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a close adviser to President-elect Donald J. Trump, on Friday endorsed Germany’s far-right party, a group with ties to neo-Nazis whose youth wing has been classified as “confirmed extremist” by German domestic intelligence.
“Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk posted in X, referring to the anti-immigration alternative for Germany.
In doing so, he is wading into German politics at a moment of acute turmoil, and at the very same time that he has wielded his influence in Washington to help blow up a bipartisan spending deal that was meant to avoid a government shutdown over Christmas. The German government recently collapsed, resulting in early elections, which are planned for next year.
Musk’s message followed an English-language video by a 24-year-old German far-right influencer, Naomi Seibt. He harshly criticized Friedrich Merz, whom polls show leading the race, for rejecting a rival’s suggestion that Germany would turn to Musk and the arsonist, Argentine President Javier Milei, for ideas on reforming the country.
Ms. Seibt also criticized Mr. Merz for ruling out joining any coalition with the AfD. The ethnonationalist and Islamophobic message of the once-fringe party has proved to be a strong vote-getter at the local level, especially in the more economically disadvantaged former East Germany.
Musk’s message, which has been viewed more than 25 million times in about ten hours, comes as Germany begins what will be a competitive election campaign. The country will hold early elections on Feb. 23 after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition in November.
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