German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the “ erratic statements » by Elon Musk in an interview published in the daily Die Welt as well as the American billionaire’s support for the far-right AfD party.
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Questioned by the magazine Stern on the barbs of Mr. Musk, who notably called him “ mad » at the beginning of November 2024 then “ incompetent fool » on December 20, before attacking German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, described as “ tyrant », Mr. Scholz estimated that he “ had to keep calm “. “ In Germanyeverything happens in accordance with the will of the citizens, and not according to the erratic statements of an American billionaire », Declared the German leader, a month and a half before early legislative elections scheduled for February 23, 2025.
The AfD, “ a party that advocates rapprochement with Putin’s Russia »
“ The German president is not an anti-democratic tyrant and Germany is a strong and stable democracy – no matter what Mr. Musk asserts », Underlined the Social Democratic Chancellor, in this interview. Mr. Scholz judges, on the other hand, “ much more problematic than these insults » Mr. Musk’s support for the AfD, ” a party which advocates rapprochement with Putin’s Russia and wants the weakening of transatlantic ties “.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), credited in the polls with second place (19% on average) in the legislative elections behind the conservatives (around 33%), recognized Tuesday in the Spiegel be in regular contact with the American businessman’s team. The 53-year-old entrepreneur will even participate on January 9 on X in a conversation with the leader of this training, Alice Weidel.
“ I don’t think we should try to curry favor with Mr. Musk »
Questioned by the magazine Stern if he planned to invite Mr. Musk to a discussion, Mr. Scholz said: “ I don’t think we should try to curry favor with Mr. Musk. I leave that to others “. The German Chancellor indicated that he met Mr. Musk in March 2022, during the inauguration of the Tesla factory in Brandenburg, not far from Berlin, at a “ a time when the local AfD protested against its establishment “. Germany is not the only target in Europe of Mr. Musk’s attacks: he projects his influence for the benefit of the hard right, particularly in the United Kingdom and undermines the European Commission.
Media ChronicleWhen Elon Musk sows trouble with a pro-AfD column in the German daily “Die Welt”