Leaders of France, Germany, Norway, and the UK Condemn Musk's Interference in EU Politics and Support for Far-Right Extremists
Germany, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom have declared that it is unacceptable for American billionaire Elon Musk, who supports the far right, to interfere in the internal politics of countries. Germany said that Musk's attempts to influence the upcoming German elections are futile, as the Tesla CEO expresses support for the far right. British Prime Minister Starmer and French President Macron echoed the sentiments of the German government.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government said on Monday that Elon Musk does not have the kind of influence on German voters that the recent crime would imply.
‘Normal people, sane people, decent people are the majority in this country,’ a government spokesman said a week after the government accused the oligarch of using his social media network X to promote the interests of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of federal elections in February.
In addition to his support for the AfD, Musk called German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier a ‘tyrant’. The Tesla CEO also announced plans to hold a live meeting with AfD leader Alice Weidel on Thursday.
‘We are acting as if Mr Musk's statements... can influence a country of 84 million people with a lie, a half-truth or an opinion. This is simply not the case,’ the German government spokesman added.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr also expressed concern.
‘Ten years ago, who could have imagined that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and directly interfere in elections, including in Germany,’ Macron said.
At the same time, Macron said that France would remain an ally of the United States under President-elect Donald Trump, to whom Musk is a loyal ally.
In addition, Musk praised Tommy Robinson, one of the most extremist and well-known far-right agitators in the UK.
‘Those who spread lies and disinformation as far and wide as possible are not interested in victims, they are interested in themselves,’ Starmer said at the press conference, without naming Musk.
‘I'm ready to call a spade a spade. We've seen this scenario many times before: the spreading of intimidation and threats of violence in the hope that the media will amplify it.’
Norwegian Prime Minister Støre said he was ‘concerned that a person with significant access to social media and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries’.