German politicians assault Elon Musk article praising far-right AfD

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German politicians have criticized media conglomerate Axel Springer for publishing an opinion piece by Elon Musk praising the far-right Various for Germany (AfD) get together, amid anger is rising within the face of the tech billionaire’s rising advocacy for right-wing populist events in Europe.

Matthias Miersch, secretary normal of Germany’s ruling Social Democratic Social gathering (SPD), described Axel Springer’s proposal as “shameful and harmful”. Musk a platform by publishing his article in one in all his newspapers, Welt am Sonntag.

“It’s unacceptable that international billionaires attempt to affect our political panorama and help events that undermine our democratic values,” he instructed the Handelsblatt newspaper.

Musk’s pro-AfD article comes lower than two months earlier than snap elections in Germany triggered by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition. The polls have the AfD in second place behind the center-right Christian Democrats, with Scholz’s SPD in third place.

Andreas Audretsch, a Inexperienced MP who’s main the get together’s election marketing campaign, took to X to criticize the article.

“It undermines our democracy when Herr Musk, the Chinese language state or the troll factories of Moscow subvert our democratic discourse,” he mentioned. “That’s why the right-wing extremists within the AfD love all this a lot.”

The editor-in-chief of the Welt newspaper, Eva Marie Kogel, introduced her resignation this weekend, an indication of anger over the choice to publish Musk’s article within the newspaper’s editorial workplace.

“Journalism lives on its independence and credibility, Die Welt lives on its repute,” mentioned Mika Beuster, president of the DJV, the affiliation of German journalists. “All that is thrown, with nice noise, within the trash. »

Musk, shut advisor to US President-elect Donald Trump and friend by Axel Springer chief government Mathias Döpfner used the opinion piece to reward the AfD, a lot of which has been designated as extremist by German home intelligence and positioned underneath surveillance. The get together additionally advocates the mass expulsion of foreigners.

Musk described Germany as being on the point of financial and cultural collapse and mentioned the AfD was the “final spark of hope” for the nation, praising its insurance policies of market deregulation, tax cuts and discount of administrative formalities, in addition to his opposition to immigration. .

He additionally rejected the concept the AfD is “far-right”, stating that his co-leader, Alice Weidel, is in a gay relationship with a girl from Sri Lanka. “Does this remind you of Hitler?” Please!” he wrote.

Musk is investing closely in Germany, the place Tesla has constructed its first European gigafactory. However its plan to broaden the manufacturing unit in Brandenburg confronted robust native resistance this yr, together with from AfD politicians within the state.

The article’s publication comes simply over per week after Musk retweeted a video of a German right-wing activist, including: “Solely the AfD can save Germany.” » Weidel replied: “Sure! You’re completely proper! »

The AfD is the most recent European far-right group to achieve help from Elon Musk.

Nigel Farage not too long ago steered Musk might donate to Reform UK, telling the BBC his get together was in “ongoing negotiations” with the tech mogul after the 2 met at Trump’s property in Mar -a-Lago.

He additionally waded into the row between Farage and Conservative Social gathering chief Kemi Badenoch, issuing a fact-checking alert over Badenoch’s tweets through which she claimed Reform UK had falsified her membership numbers.

Earlier this yr, Musk praised far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, describing her as “somebody who’s much more stunning on the within than she is on the surface.” » and “genuine, sincere and considerate”. She returned the favor by praising his “treasured genius.”

Insiders at Axel Springer, which additionally owns Politico, rejected criticism that by publishing the article they have been giving a platform to Musk and the far proper.

“He owns Twitter and with one tweet he can attain 200 million folks,” one mentioned. “Who’s Welt to offer him a platform? It’s a platform. Higher to publish it on our platform the place we are able to maintain it and accompany it with our personal opinion.