Elon Musk criticised for endorsing pro-Nazi AfD in Germany
World's richest man Elon Musk, who by this point has made his dictates for liberal politics and politicians around the world inevitably clear, has now gone one step further and endorsed a pro-Nazi opposition party in Germany. "Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk wrote on X while reposting a video criticising Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democrats who is widely expected to become the next German chancellor.
What is Alternative for Germany
Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a right-wing German political party founded in 2013 that has been under the scanner for its pro-Nazi stance.
Though it was founded by former members of the CDU, AfD, which advocates German nationalism, soon started echoing many claims that the Nazis made in the past. Some members have attended neo-Nazi events and even defended Nazi-era atrocities committed against Jews.
AfD's pro-Nazi push
Earlier this year, AfD leader Maximilian Krah claimed that not all members of the SS, or Schutzstaffel, the Nazi paramilitary group accused of crimes against humanity and a leading role in the Holocaust, were criminals.
Due to their controversial nature, there have been several calls to ban AfD, which in recent years has made significant electoral gains, riding on the anti-immigrant wave in Germany.
Reaction to Musk in Germany
Musk's endorsement of AfD has been met with criticism and disbelief in Germany, across party lines.
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach described Musk¡¯s involvement as "undignified and highly problematic," accusing him of interfering in Germany¡¯s political discourse ahead of February's snap elections.
Christian Lindner, leader of the pro-business Free Democrats, reminded Musk that AfD stands against freedom and business and that it is a far-right extremist party.
Many on social media also raised alarm bells over Musk's latest political endorsement, and some even wondered if US President-elect Donald Trump would want to have a pro-Nazi in his government.
It should be noted that in the past, too, Musk has voiced his support for the far-right, including the UK¡¯s Nigel Farage and Italy¡¯s Giorgia Meloni, while lambasting the likes of Justin Trudeau and Keir Starmer.
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