Tech CEO Supports Controversial German Party Before Elections
Berlin, GermanyMon Dec 30 2024
Advertisement
This scenario: a famous tech billionaire throws his support behind a controversial political party right before a crucial election in Germany. That's what happened when Elon Musk backed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a newspaper opinion piece. This sparked a lot of debate and even led to a high-profile resignation.
Germany is facing an early election on February 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition fell apart due to economic disagreements. Musk, who has invested in Germany, wrote in a German newspaper that the AfD is the country's last hope for economic prosperity and cultural integrity. He also challenged the party's bad reputation by pointing out that its leader, Alice Weidel, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka.
The AfD might be strong in the polls, but it's unlikely to win the top job because other parties won't work with them. Musk's support for the AfD caused quite a stir. It even led to the resignation of the newspaper's opinion editor, who quit right after Musk's piece was published.
Musk's article started a big discussion about free speech in German media. The current and future editors-in-chief of the newspaper defended publishing Musk's piece, saying it's important for journalism to allow different viewpoints.
https://localnews.ai/article/tech-ceo-supports-controversial-german-party-before-elections-485b4a87
actions
flag content