Musk’s support for the far right in Germany is part of a bigger plan that threatens eight decades of progress
Trending News
6 days, 1 hour ago

Musk’s support for the far right in Germany is part of a bigger plan that threatens eight decades of progress

The Independent  

As Germans headed into a year gripped by foreboding, I was reminded of an episode a decade ago that struck me then as absurd, and that now makes me marvel at its prescience. “The Alternative for Germany is the last spark of hope for this country,” Musk wrote in his translated commentary. Musk’s commentary quickly led to the resignation of the newspaper’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, while Lars Klingbeil, the chair of Scholz’s Social Democrats, who are trailing far behind in third, accused Musk of wanting to “plunge Germany into chaos”, comparing him to Vladimir Putin. “Both want to influence our elections and specifically support the AfD’s enemies of democracy,” Klingbeil said. open image in gallery Elon Musk speaks with Donald Trump at a viewing of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas in November 2024 The optimistic scenario is that German voters are no more disposed to American entrepreneurs telling them what to do than they were a decade ago, and that Musk’s cosying up to the AfD will make little difference.

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History of this topic

Norway PM worried by Musk involvement in politics outside US
3 days, 6 hours ago

Norway PM worried by Musk involvement in politics outside US

Hindustan Times  

OSLO -Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Monday that he found it worrying that billionaire Elon Musk was involving himself in the political issues of countries outside of the United States. Norway PM worried by Musk involvement in politics outside US Musk, a close ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, last month endorsed a German anti-immigration, anti-Islamic political …

German chancellor Scholz condemns Musk for ‘erratic comments’, support for AfD
5 days, 1 hour ago

German chancellor Scholz condemns Musk for ‘erratic comments’, support for AfD

Hindustan Times  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Elon Musk's "erratic" comments and his open support for the extreme-right AfD party in an interview published Saturday. Asked about interference by Musk -- who last month called Scholz an "incompetent fool" before calling the German president an "anti-democratic tyrant", the chancellor told Stern magazine it was important "to keep calm" ahead of Germany's snap …

Explained: Elon Musk's disdain for several governments and affinity for right-wing parties
5 days, 14 hours ago

Explained: Elon Musk's disdain for several governments and affinity for right-wing parties

India TV News  

With Donald Trump's victory in the United States, one person who has gained the most prominence after the President-elect himself is Elon Musk. Musk backs Germany's AfD Recently, Musk got involved in Germany's general election campaign by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party. Musk has also criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying that he failed to …

JD Vance calls Elon Musk’s piece praising far-right German party AfD ‘interesting’
Trending News
6 days, 8 hours ago

JD Vance calls Elon Musk’s piece praising far-right German party AfD ‘interesting’

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Vice President-elect JD Vance took to X to call an …

'Slander': J.D. Vance defends far-right German party as he promotes Elon Musk endorsement
6 days, 18 hours ago

'Slander': J.D. Vance defends far-right German party as he promotes Elon Musk endorsement

Raw Story  

Vance defended a far-right, anti-immigrant German political party after billionaire Elon Musk revealed plans to use his social media platform to promote the group. A spokesperson for the far-right Alternative for Germany party confirmed this week that Musk planned to host a discussion with AfD's chancellor candidate Alice Weidel. "American media slanders AfD as Nazi-lite, But AfD is most popular …

Germany accuses Musk of election meddling over AfD support: What we know
1 week ago

Germany accuses Musk of election meddling over AfD support: What we know

Al Jazeera  

Elon Musk praised far-right party Alternative for Germany and its leader Alice Weidel in an opinion piece for German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Germany’s government accused US billionaire Elon Musk on Monday of interfering in its upcoming February election after he threw his support behind the far-right party, Alternative for Germany in X posts and an opinion piece published by …

German Chancellor Takes Not-So-Subtle Jab At Elon Musk In New Year's Address
1 week, 1 day ago

German Chancellor Takes Not-So-Subtle Jab At Elon Musk In New Year's Address

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took a thinly veiled swipe at Elon Musk on Tuesday, using his New Year’s address to criticize the tech billionaire’s involvement in the European country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Rather, that will be up to the vast majority of reasonable and decent people.” In his New Year's address, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took a …

German leaders hit back at Musk's support for far right
Trending News
1 week, 2 days ago

German leaders hit back at Musk's support for far right

Raw Story  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his deputy hit back Tuesday at Elon Musk's support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party, as the billionaire continued intervening in the country's politics. Without naming Musk directly, Scholz said in a New Year's Eve speech set to be broadcast on television on Tuesday evening that "what will happen in Germany will be decided …

Germany’s government accuses Elon Musk of election interference after he endorses Right-Wing AfD party
1 week, 2 days ago

Germany’s government accuses Elon Musk of election interference after he endorses Right-Wing AfD party

Op India  

The German government has accused Tesla CEO and entrepreneur Elon Musk of interfering in the country’s upcoming election after he endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany, according to a report by Euro News. Officials, including government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann, Social Democratic Party co-leader Lars Klingbeil, and Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s largest opposition party Christian Democratic Union condemned Musk’s comments …

Wants weak Europe: German vice chancellor on Elon Musk backing far-right party
Trending News
1 week, 2 days ago

Wants weak Europe: German vice chancellor on Elon Musk backing far-right party

India Today  

US billionaire Elon Musk's support for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany is a "logical and systematic" play for a weak Europe that will not be able to regulate as strongly, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said in his New Year's address. The calls by Musk are not made out of ignorance, said Habeck, who is the chancellor candidate for the Greens …

Germany says Elon Musk 'trying to influence the federal election'
Top News
1 week, 3 days ago

Germany says Elon Musk 'trying to influence the federal election'

Hindustan Times  

A German government spokesperson said on Monday that US billionaire Elon Musk, one of the richest people in the world, is trying to influence the European country's elections, which will take place in February. Elon Musk Elon Musk triggered uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country. "It …

Berlin says Elon Musk trying to influence German election
1 week, 3 days ago

Berlin says Elon Musk trying to influence German election

India Today  

US billionaire Elon Musk is trying to exert influence over the German election taking place in February, a government spokesperson said on Monday. "It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election," with X posts and an opinion piece he wrote backing the right-wing Alternative for Germany over the weekend, she said. The support …

German government seeks to downplay Musk’s backing of far-right party ahead of general election
Top News
1 week, 3 days ago

German government seeks to downplay Musk’s backing of far-right party ahead of general election

LA Times  

Elon Musk speaks at a Donald Trump campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27 in New York. The German government on Monday sought to downplay efforts by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk to get involved in the country’s general election campaign by again endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party. She did, however, say that “it is …

Germany accuses Elon Musk of trying to influence its election
1 week, 3 days ago

Germany accuses Elon Musk of trying to influence its election

CNN  

Reuters — The German government accused US billionaire Elon Musk on Monday of trying to influence its election due in February with articles supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany party, even though it suggested they amounted to “nonsense.” Musk, who is set to serve Donald Trump’s new administration as an outside adviser, endorsed the AfD as Germany’s last hope in …

Elon Musk backs German far-right party in editorial, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor
Top News
1 week, 3 days ago

Elon Musk backs German far-right party in editorial, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany's far-right …

Elon Musk backs German right wing outfit, Germany's leaders call it 'intrusive'
Top News
1 week, 3 days ago

Elon Musk backs German right wing outfit, Germany's leaders call it 'intrusive'

Hindustan Times  

U.S. billionaire Elon Musk drew criticism from German politicians from the government and opposition on Sunday for an opinion piece he wrote backing the right-wing Alternative for Germany which they deemed "intrusive" outside influence. Elon Musk wrote an opinion piece backing the right-wing Alternative for Germany party The support of the AfD from Musk, who is set to serve U.S. …

Elon Musk sparks controversy by endorsing Germany's far-right party before elections
Top News
1 week, 4 days ago

Elon Musk sparks controversy by endorsing Germany's far-right party before elections

India Today  

BERLIN: Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag —a sister publication of POLITICO owned by the Axel Springer Group — published in German …

Elon Musk causes uproar for backing Germany’s far-right party ahead of key elections
Trending News
1 week, 4 days ago

Elon Musk causes uproar for backing Germany’s far-right party ahead of key elections

LA Times  

People attend an AfD election campaign near the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Monday. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag — …

Elon Musk backs far-right party AfD in German newspaper opinion piece
1 week, 4 days ago

Elon Musk backs far-right party AfD in German newspaper opinion piece

Hindustan Times  

Elon Musk reiterated his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, in an opinion piece published by the Welt am Sonntag newspaper less than two months before Germans go to the polls. Elon Musk backs Germany's far-right party AfD in German newspaper opinion piece “The AfD, even though it is described as far-right, represents a political realism …

Letters to the Editor: Elon Musk’s influence shows why we need campaign spending reform
2 weeks, 2 days ago

Letters to the Editor: Elon Musk’s influence shows why we need campaign spending reform

LA Times  

Elon Musk greets President-elect Donald Trump as he arrives to watch a SpaceX rocket launch in Texas on Nov. 19. Musk’s rise to political prominence and power is the result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s mindless decision in the 2010 Citizens United case, which enabled him to spend at least $250 million in support of President-elect Donald Trump. Coming soon …

Mark Cuban uses Elon Musk’s own AI chatbot to shoot down his praise of far-right German party
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Mark Cuban uses Elon Musk’s own AI chatbot to shoot down his praise of far-right German party

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Mark Cuban has used Elon Musk’s own AI chatbot to …

Backlash as Elon Musk claims only far-right AfD can ‘save Germany’
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Backlash as Elon Musk claims only far-right AfD can ‘save Germany’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In a post on X, Mr Musk’s social media …

'Agent of influence': Expert warns Musk's tactics are straight out of ‘Russia’s playbook'
2 weeks, 5 days ago

'Agent of influence': Expert warns Musk's tactics are straight out of ‘Russia’s playbook'

Raw Story  

Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s increasing influence – not just in the United States as a close ally of the incoming president – but around the world is helping to fuel Russia’s war on democracy and mirrors tactics pulled from Vladimir Putin’s playbook, foreign policy researcher Olga Lautman warned Friday. She urged Democrats to investigate Musk’s “ties to Moscow, his access …

Elon Musk wants 'incompetent fool' Olaf Scholz to quit after German market attack
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Elon Musk wants 'incompetent fool' Olaf Scholz to quit after German market attack

India Today  

Billionaire Elon Musk, set to join US President-elect Donald Trump's administration as an outside adviser, on Friday called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign in response to a deadly attack at a German Christmas market. "Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk wrote in a post on his social media platform, X. Musk, the world's richest person, has already …

Elon Musk says German chancellor should resign after attack at Christmas market
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Elon Musk says German chancellor should resign after attack at Christmas market

Hindustan Times  

Billionaire Elon Musk, set to join U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's administration as an outside adviser, on Friday called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign in response to a deadly attack at a German Christmas market. Earlier on Friday, Elon Musk waded into Germany's election campaign, calling the far-right Alternative for Germany the country's saviour. "Only the AfD can save …

Scholz dismisses Musk's assertion that only far-right party can "save" Germany
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Scholz dismisses Musk's assertion that only far-right party can "save" Germany

Hindustan Times  

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday dismissed an assertion by Elon Musk that only a far-right party can “save Germany,” but said that freedom of opinion "also goes for multibillionaires.” Elon Musk's claim that only a far-right party can "save Germany" was rejected by Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday, but he added that freedom of speech "also goes for multibillionaires." Germany …

Scholz dismisses Musk’s assertion that only a far-right party can ‘save’ Germany
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Scholz dismisses Musk’s assertion that only a far-right party can ‘save’ Germany

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday dismissed an assertion by Elon Musk that only a far-right party can “save Germany,” but said that freedom of opinion “also goes for multibillionaires.” Germany is expected to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s …

'Big deal': Elon Musk raises alarms by endorsing what's known as 'German neo-Nazi party'
2 weeks, 6 days ago

'Big deal': Elon Musk raises alarms by endorsing what's known as 'German neo-Nazi party'

Raw Story  

Elon Musk raised alarm by endorsing Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland, which has called for the nation to leave the European Union. The tech billionaire and Donald Trump adviser commented on an X post by far-right influencer Naomi Seibt, who had criticized German politician Friedrich Merz, saying the potential next chancellor was "horrified by the idea that Germany should follow …

Elon Musk backs Germany’s far-right AfD before elections
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Elon Musk backs Germany’s far-right AfD before elections

Al Jazeera  

Germans expected to vote on February 23 after a centre-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapses. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk wrote on Friday in a post on his social media platform, X. Europe’s largest economy is expected to vote on February 23 after a centre-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed. Radtke called …

Analysis: Europe, too, feels Musk’s political impact. How far will it go?
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Analysis: Europe, too, feels Musk’s political impact. How far will it go?

LA Times  

Elon Musk attends the ceremony to mark the reopening of Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral on Dec. 07, 2024, in Paris. Musk’s foray into German politics came just after far-right British politician Nigel Farage, who for years has been a fixture in Trump’s orbit, declared this week that the South African-born Tesla and Space X magnate was considering a historically large …

Elon Musk throws his support behind Germany's extremist far-right
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Elon Musk throws his support behind Germany's extremist far-right

Salon  

Elon Musk, the billionaire whose support for Donald Trump has given him the president-elect's ear, is throwing his support behind Alternative for Germany, a far-right party that critics describe as xenophobic, extremist and perhaps even a successor to the Nazi Party. The conservative Christian Democratic Union, helmed by Friedrich Merz, currently leads in the polls, with nearly double the support …

Elon Musk endorses far-right German political party, wading deeper into global politics
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Elon Musk endorses far-right German political party, wading deeper into global politics

CNN  

New York CNN — Elon Musk is wading into more than just American politics, throwing his support behind a far-right German political party. On Friday, Musk continued posting about the AfD, writing in response to a user’s post about the party’s immigration policy that it “sounds reasonable.” Musk began following AfD leader Alice Weidel on X who responded to his …

Volkswagen's threats to shutter factory are a headache for Germany's Olaf Scholz, his party: Here's why
1 month, 1 week ago

Volkswagen's threats to shutter factory are a headache for Germany's Olaf Scholz, his party: Here's why

Firstpost  

The crisis has political ramifications beyond Volkswagen. The far-right Alternative for Germany party is capitalising on public discontent and is currently polling in second place ahead of February’s election Volkswagen's threat to shut down plants and lay off workers has caused frustration amongst labour unions and created issues for politicians. Thorsten Gröger, chief negotiator for IG Metall, Germany’s largest labour …

Euphoric over Trump victory, Musk calls Germany’s Scholz ‘a fool’ after his coalition collapses
2 months ago

Euphoric over Trump victory, Musk calls Germany’s Scholz ‘a fool’ after his coalition collapses

Firstpost  

Musk’s remark comes as he basks in his recent influence over Donald Trump’s successful presidential campaign, which saw Trump reclaim the White House Billionaire Elon Musk took a swipe at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday, calling him a “fool” following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition government. In response to a social media post about the government’s disintegration, Musk …

German elections: The rise of populism in Germany has important lessons for Starmer
4 months ago

German elections: The rise of populism in Germany has important lessons for Starmer

The Independent  

Whether they like it or not, Germans and Brits are beginning to resemble each other. The Free Democrats, the smallest coalition party, garnered less than 1 per cent of the vote in Saxony last Sunday, ending up behind the Animal Protection Party. As for the opposition Christian Democrats, the CDU, it should be streets ahead, but in its acerbic post-Merkel …

Germany’s far right gets a boost from past traumas haunting industrial east
4 months, 1 week ago

Germany’s far right gets a boost from past traumas haunting industrial east

The Hindu  

In the relatively well-off city of Zwickau, in Germany’s former Communist East, economic uncertainty and a turbulent history have combined to drive support for the far right ahead of a key regional election. “People are afraid of losing everything they have built up again over the years,” said Zwickau’s Mayor, Constance Arndt. To understand why “the mood is so bad” …

Germany’s Scholz calls for unity against far-right after MEP seriously hurt
8 months ago

Germany’s Scholz calls for unity against far-right after MEP seriously hurt

Al Jazeera  

Chancellor’s appeal comes after four assailants brutally attacked a politician who was campaigning in eastern Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for people to stand together against far-right activism after a politician was attacked while campaigning for the European parliamentary elections. “Democracy is threatened by something like this, and that is why shrugging our shoulders is never an option,” …

A candidate for Germany’s key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
8 months ago

A candidate for Germany’s key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections

LA Times  

A candidate for the center-left party of German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, was attacked while putting up campaign posters in Dresden. A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left party in next month’s election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday. The main center-left grouping, the Party …

German far-right leader Björn Höcke on trial for allegedly using Nazi slogan — his 'extremist' party is one of the country's highest-polling
8 months, 3 weeks ago

German far-right leader Björn Höcke on trial for allegedly using Nazi slogan — his 'extremist' party is one of the country's highest-polling

ABC  

In short: Far-right politician Björn Höcke will go on trial for allegedly using a Nazi slogan at separate political events. When it comes to predicting the outcome of the trial, Australian National University social psychologist Dr Charlie Crimston says it's "difficult to predict". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a political gathering she was "not surprised". "Inside the …

Olaf Scholz and Germany's political mainstream facing a miserable 2024
1 year ago

Olaf Scholz and Germany's political mainstream facing a miserable 2024

The Telegraph  

Germany’s mainstream political parties are facing a nightmare 2024 in which they risk being clobbered by the far-Right Alternative for Germany party in local and European elections. those who did not vote in past elections because of their general dissatisfaction with the political parties.” Germany’s decades-long struggle with the “Ost-West-Kluft” between the former Communist GDR and West Germany could also …

Prominent German leftist to launch a new party that could eat into far-right’s support
1 year, 2 months ago

Prominent German leftist to launch a new party that could eat into far-right’s support

Associated Press  

BERLIN — A prominent German leftist politician has launched plans to form a new party that some observers think could take votes away from the far-right Alternative for Germany. She said that with the economic sanctions against Russia, “we have cut off ourselves off from cheap energy without there being viable alternatives.” She accused Scholz’s government of abandoning “the important …

Prominent German leftist to launch a new party that could eat into far-right's support
1 year, 2 months ago

Prominent German leftist to launch a new party that could eat into far-right's support

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A prominent German leftist politician …

Sidelined by rivals, Germany’s far-right AfD bides time
3 years, 3 months ago

Sidelined by rivals, Germany’s far-right AfD bides time

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Immigration is a side issue in this year’s German election campaign, but that hasn’t stopped the country’s biggest far-right party from trying to play it up. “Cologne, Kassel or Konstanz can’t cope with more Kabul,” Alternative for Germany declared on one of its posters ahead of the Sept. 26 election — a reference to the government’s decision to …

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