Richard Parks German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has strongly criticized Elon Musk for publicly endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party just weeks before the country’s general elections.
Musk’s Actions Spark Accusations of Interference
Musk, who owns the social media platform X, has repeatedly voiced support for the AfD. Recently, he posted, “Only the AfD can save Germany,” and published an op-ed in Welt am Sonntag promoting the party.
German officials have accused Musk of meddling in the electoral process, labeling his comments as a threat to democratic norms. Scholz expressed his disapproval, stating, “Supporting a partly right-wing extremist party is unacceptable and goes against everything we stand for. I strongly condemn these actions.”
Scholz Warns of Media Influence and Algorithmic Bias
Scholz, who has previously dismissed Musk’s personal attacks, raised concerns over the influence of tech moguls on public opinion. “What’s new is how global media entrepreneurs manipulate opinions through algorithms,” Scholz remarked. “This poses a serious challenge to democratic processes.”
Denial of Alleged Putin Meeting
Scholz also addressed rumors suggesting he planned to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He denied the claims outright, calling them baseless. “Such false allegations are deeply inappropriate. No such meeting has been considered or planned,” Scholz asserted.
The chancellor emphasized the need to protect Germany’s democratic institutions from external interference and misinformation in the lead-up to the February elections.