German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed personal criticism from Elon Musk as “nothing new” but expressed concern over the billionaire’s endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Musk, a close ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, called Scholz a “fool” after his coalition government collapsed in November and later endorsed the AfD in a German newspaper opinion piece.
In an interview with Stern magazine, Scholz, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), said Musk’s support for a party under domestic intelligence scrutiny for right-wing extremism was more troubling than insults. He noted the AfD’s pro-Russia stance and its efforts to undermine transatlantic ties.
Musk’s commentary in Welt am Sonntag sparked backlash, including the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel. Musk defended his remarks, citing his investment in Germany as justification for commenting on its politics.
Despite polling gains, the AfD’s chances of leading the government remain slim, as other parties refuse to collaborate with them. Germany’s early parliamentary elections are set for February 23 following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition.
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