new york
CNN
—
In addition to American politics, Elon Musk has expressed support for far-right parties in Germany.
Trump ally Musk, a billionaire who plays a public role in the incoming administration, posted on Friday that he supports Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the German government collapsed this week. .
“Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk wrote on Friday while reposting a video of far-right political activist Naomi Seibt.
The AfD, which has recently gained popularity, advocates a populist, anti-immigrant, “Germany first” stance. However, the party has been accused of reviving Nazi-era ideologies and slogans. In May, a judge ruled that domestic intelligence services could continue to monitor the AfD, which it said was a threat to German democracy, rejecting a challenge by the party.
Its youth wing, Young Alternatives (JA), has been designated by German authorities as a “declared extremist” organization. Björn Höcke, the party’s leading candidate in the eastern German state of Thuringia, was found guilty earlier this year of violating a German law that prohibits chanting Nazi slogans in public.
However, the party’s support is growing. The AfD recently became the first far-right party to win a national election in Germany since the Nazi era, but all mainstream parties in the country have said they will not form a coalition. Coalitions are needed to form enough seats. dominant government.
This is not the first time Musk has intervened in German politics. In June, he responded to a video of Mr. Seibt asking, “Why is there such a negative reaction from some people about the AfD?” They keep calling themselves “far right,” but what I’ve read about the AfD’s policies doesn’t seem extremist. Maybe I’m missing something,” he wrote. And last month, after the coalition government collapsed, he criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a “fool”.
On Friday, Musk continued posting about the AfD, writing, “That seems reasonable,” in response to a user’s post about the party’s immigration policies.
Musk began following AfD leader Alice Weidell on X, who responded with support and posted a video thanking her.
“The option for Germany is certainly the only option for our country. It is our last option. We wish you and President Donald Trump all the best in your future terms,” she wrote.
Christian Lindner, leader of Germany’s pro-business Free Democratic Party, also responded to Musk’s post on Friday, urging people not to “jump to conclusions from afar.”
“Immigration control is extremely important for Germany, but the AfD is anti-freedom, pro-business, and a far-right extremist party,” Lindner wrote.
Musk has been gaining support for far-right movements in Europe. Earlier this year, Musk responded to a post blaming violent protests on “mass immigration and open borders,” writing on his social media platforms that “civil war is inevitable,” sparking anti-immigration riots in the U.K. instigated.
Earlier this week, Nigel Farage, a far-right British populist politician and ally of Mr. Trump, said Mr. Musk was considering funding his Reform Britain party.
Mr Farage wrote in the Telegraph that after his meeting with Mr Musk “he left us with no doubt that he was right behind us” and said there were “continued negotiations” over funding. Ta.
