WARSAW, Poland (AP) Tech billionaire Elon Musk is set to host a live-streamed chat on his social media platform X on Thursday with Alice Weidel, the co-leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. This event has sparked growing concerns across Europe regarding Musk's potential interference in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 23, 2025.
Musk's actions are under scrutiny after he appeared to support the AfD by proclaiming on X that "Only the AfD can save Germany." He later reiterated his stance in an article for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, suggesting that Germany, under the leadership of center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is "teetering on the edge of economic and cultural collapse." This alarming endorsement of the far-right party comes as tensions rise over Musk's influential role on social media, which has been known for spreading disinformation.
The planned chat at 7 p.m. in Germany (1800GMT) is highlighting Musk's political engagement, which has raised alarms among policymakers and commentators across Europe. His previous actions in the U.S., where he reportedly played a role in aiding Donald Trump's re-election efforts, have intensified these worries. Moreover, Musk has made controversial statements such as demanding the release of jailed U.K. anti-Islam extremist Tommy Robinson and labeling British Prime Minister Keir Starmer an "evil tyrant." In Poland, there are rising concerns that Musk could exploit his social media platform to sway the upcoming presidential election in May.
Although Weidel and the AfD do not have substantial backing ahead of the election, the party has observed a notable increase in support, attributed to a reduction in criticism directed at its policies. The AfD has adopted a hardline stance on immigration, particularly in response to Chancellor Angela Merkel's 2015 decision to allow a significant number of refugees and migrants into Germany. This decision has established the AfD as a prominent player in the German political landscape since its inception in 2013.
The AfD has been placed under surveillance by Germany's domestic intelligence agency over allegations of extremism, which the party vehemently disputes, framing it as a politically motivated effort to undermine its credibility. Despite these challenges, the AfD has benefitted from public discontent with Scholz's three-party coalition government, hoping to position itself as the largest party in three state elections set for September in the former East Germany, where it enjoys considerable support.
As Elon Musk prepares to engage with the AfD through the live-streamed chat, the international political community remains watchful, wary of the broader implications of such endorsements in the context of an increasingly polarized political climate in Europe.
