Musk's Endorsement of Far-Right Candidate Disrupts German Election Campaign
Elon Musk's enthusiastic endorsement of far-right candidate Alice Weidel is significantly impacting the electoral landscape as Germany prepares for its elections on February 23. Rather than focusing on pressing issues such as economic recession and industrial crises, the political discourse is now dominated by Musk's involvement with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that remains controversial despite its substantial voter base.
Musk, the world's wealthiest individual and a key ally of the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to engage in a conversation with Weidel on the social media platform X, which he owns, this Thursday at 19:00 CET. Recent polls indicate that the AfD, under Weidel's leadership, is positioned as the second most popular party, garnering around 20% of projected votes, trailing the Christian Democrats at 30% and ahead of the Social Democrats, led by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at approximately 15%.
The billionaire's support for Weidel, which has been marked by derogatory remarks aimed at Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has left the German political class perplexed. This type of intervention is unfamiliar and particularly striking coming from a major ally, the United States. This endorsement could bolster the AfD's efforts to normalize its presence in German politics, especially as the party holds a congress this weekend in Riesa, Saxony. However, experts warn that too close an association with unpredictable figures like Musk and Trump may alienate German voters seeking stability.
The AfD is under close scrutiny from intelligence services due to its connections with fringe groups tied to old nationalist sentiments in Germany. A strict political isolation, or 'cordon sanitaire', has been imposed on the party. Following the AfD's electoral successes in the September elections across three eastern federal states, a coalition of Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, and left-wing populists has worked to prevent the far-right from gaining power. Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic candidate for Chancellor, has assured that there will be no collaboration with the AfD.
Weidel has criticized the Christian Democrats for allegedly mirroring the AfD's platform, particularly regarding their stance on Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. She argues that the party is becoming increasingly aggressive in its rhetoric.
Musk's endorsement of the AfD sends a clear message to Germans just as a new U.S. administration is about to take office: what is considered an excluded party in Germany is viewed as a legitimate political entity by Trump's administration. This situation is further complicated by Musk's opinion pieces appearing in Die Welt, a major German newspaper, indicating that the call for votes for the far-right is no longer confined to fringe publications but gaining traction in mainstream media.
Political analysts describe Musk's actions as unprecedented electoral interference. As a figure of immense wealth and influence, Musk's involvement complicates the dynamics of German politics, with implications that could extend beyond Germany's borders. French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on the unexpected nature of such foreign interventions in domestic elections.
In parallel, Musk has also been engaged in a campaign against British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, further raising concerns about the influence of American figures in European political affairs.
In Austria, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) recently emerged as the leading party in elections, prompting questions about the political landscape in Germany. Following stalled negotiations among traditional parties to prevent the FPÖ from governing, the Austrian President has tasked the FPÖ leader with forming a new government. This development has led some conservative factions in Germany to ponder whether a similar shift might occur in their own political arena.
