Tue Dec 31 03:54:02 UTC 2024: ## Musk’s AfD Endorsement Sparks Uproar in Germany

**BERLIN, Dec 31, 2024** – Elon Musk’s endorsement of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a guest opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper has ignited a firestorm of controversy. The tech billionaire’s commentary, published just days before Germany’s early election on February 23rd, has drawn sharp criticism from the German government and media outlets alike.

Musk’s article, which lauded the AfD as “the last spark of hope” for Germany, prompted the resignation of Welt am Sonntag’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, who cited the piece as the reason for her departure. The newspaper itself faced backlash for providing a platform to Musk, a foreign national, to weigh in on German politics.

Government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann acknowledged Musk’s attempt to influence the election but emphasized that freedom of speech extends even to “the greatest nonsense.” She also highlighted the AfD’s monitoring by Germany’s domestic intelligence service due to right-wing extremist concerns.

While acknowledging some of Musk’s criticisms of Germany’s economic situation, the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, countered that Musk’s proposed solution – supporting the AfD – was fundamentally flawed.

The controversy underscores a broader debate in Germany about the limits of free speech and the influence of foreign actors in domestic elections, particularly given the AfD’s significant but not decisive polling numbers. The party’s candidate, Alice Weidel, faces an uphill battle to become chancellor due to the unwillingness of other parties to form coalitions with them.

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