Elon Musk gives nod to German far-right, anti-immigration party as election looms
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Mr Elon Musk has met with Britain's right-wing politician Nigel Farage, a friend of US President-elect Donald Trump.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – Billionaire Elon Musk, set to join US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, waded into Germany’s election campaign on Dec 20, calling the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) the country’s saviour.
The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority. But Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have vowed to shun support from the AfD at the national level.
Europe’s leading power is expected to vote on Feb 23 after a centre-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed
“Only the AfD can save Germany,” Mr Musk wrote in a post on his social media platform, X.
Mr Musk, the world’s richest person, has already expressed support for other anti-immigration parties across Europe.
The German government said it took note of Mr Musk’s post but declined to give any further comment at its news press conference.
Mr Musk reposted a message by German right-wing influencer Naomi Seibt that criticised Mr Friedrich Merz, chancellor candidate for the conservatives, who are comfortably ahead in surveys.
Mr Scholz told a press conference: “Freedom of speech also means that you can say things that aren’t right and don’t contain good political advice.”
Mr Musk already voiced support for the AfD in 2023, when he attacked the German government’s handling of illegal migration.
In November, he called for the sacking of Italian judges who questioned the legality of government measures to prevent irregular immigration.
And this week, Mr Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s right-wing Reform UK party and friend of Trump, posted a photo of himself and Reform’s treasurer meeting Mr Musk at Trump’s Florida residence, and said he was in talks with Mr Musk
