Scholz Responds to Musk’s Controversial Remarks
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed that he remains “cool” in the face of critical personal comments made by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. However, he has voiced concern over Musk’s apparent endorsement of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, suggesting that the US tycoon may be trying to meddle in the upcoming general election.
Scholz’s remarks come after Musk, who is known for his close ties to US President-elect Donald Trump, referred to the chancellor as a “fool” following the collapse of Scholz’s coalition government in November. Musk later publicly supported the AfD in an opinion piece published by a prominent German newspaper.
As the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Scholz commented in an interview with the German magazine Stern that he finds the criticism from “wealthy media moguls who have little regard for social democratic politics” to be quite familiar. He stated, “You have to stay cool.”
He added, “What I find much more concerning than such insults is Musk’s support for a party like the AfD, which has elements that are right-wing extremist and advocates for a rapprochement with Putin’s Russia while seeking to undermine transatlantic relations.” Scholz noted that the AfD is under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency due to its suspected extremist activities, and some German states have officially recognized the party as such.
“Hands Off German Democracy!”
With Germany scheduled to hold an early parliamentary election on February 23, following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition due to disputes over how to rejuvenate the stagnant economy, tensions are running high. Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck has also cautioned Musk against interfering in the political landscape of Germany.
“Hands off our democracy, Mr. Musk!” Habeck declared in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine. He emphasized that “the combination of immense wealth, control over information and networks, the utilization of artificial intelligence, and a blatant disregard for established rules represents a direct assault on our democracy,” highlighting his position as the Green Party’s candidate for chancellor.
Musk’s Justification for His Comments
Musk stirred significant controversy by voicing his support for the AfD in his opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag, which led to the resignation of the newspaper’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, in protest. In his translated commentary, Musk asserted, “The AfD is the last spark of hope for this country.”
Furthermore, the CEO of Tesla claimed that his investment in Germany grants him the right to comment on the country’s political situation. Although the AfD is currently polling well, its candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, remains unlikely to secure the position, as other political parties have ruled out any collaboration with the far-right faction.
