The German government has accused Elon Musk of trying to influence the country&rsquo;s elections through repeated public endorsements of the far-right party <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/germany-afd-organises-march-in-magdeburg-site-of-deadly-christmas-market-attack-786617" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Alternative for Germany (AfD)</a>.
Government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said, &ldquo;It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election.&rdquo; Her comments came in response to Musk&rsquo;s posts on X, formerly Twitter, and an opinion piece published over the weekend in support of the AfD.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-endorses-german-far-right-afd-in-op-ed-opinion-editor-resigns-in-protest-8574191">Elon Musk endorses German far right AfD in op-ed; opinion editor resigns in protest</a>
While acknowledging Musk&rsquo;s right to put out his views, Hoffmann added, &ldquo;He is free to express his opinion. One does not have to share this opinion. After all, freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense."
Hoffmann called Musk&rsquo;s endorsement &ldquo;a recommendation to vote for a party that is being monitored (by domestic intelligence) on suspicion of being right-wing extremist and which has already been recognised as partly right-wing extremist.&rdquo;
<h2>&nbsp;AfD is Germany&rsquo;s 'last hope': Musk</h2>
Musk, who will&nbsp;serve as an adviser to Donald Trump&rsquo;s upcoming administration, called the AfD Germany&rsquo;s &ldquo;last hope&rdquo; in a guest opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. After his opinion piece was published, the paper&rsquo;s commentary editor resigned in protest.
In the article, written in German, Musk defended the AfD, saying, &ldquo;The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party&rsquo;s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-problematic-post-on-german-politics-sparks-accusations-785767">Elon Musk's 'problematic' post on German politics sparks accusations of interference</a>
The controversy comes as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-heads-for-snap-elections-on-february-23-after-chancellor-olaf-scholzs-party-coalition-collapsed-775589">Germany prepares for parliamentary elections</a> on 23 February, following the collapse of the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
This is not the first time Musk has faced criticism from Germany over his political comments. He previously wrote on X that &ldquo;only the AfD can save Germany,&rdquo; drawing widespread criticism. At the time, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called Musk&rsquo;s actions &ldquo;undignified and problematic,&rdquo; adding that they might equate election interference.
Last month, Musk even called Chancellor Olaf Scholz a &ldquo;fool&rdquo; on X. He defended his involvement in German politics by citing his &ldquo;significant investments&rdquo; in the country.
The AfD is currently polling in second place in the opinion polls. A strong performance by the AfD in the election could complicate coalition-building, as mainstream parties have ruled out working with the AfD at either state or federal levels.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: German government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said, “It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election.” 

The German government has accused Elon Musk of trying to influence the country’s elections through repeated public endorsements of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). Government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said, “It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election.” Her comments came in response to Musk’s posts on X, formerly Twitter, and an opinion piece published over the weekend in support of the AfD. Also read: Elon Musk endorses German far right AfD in op-ed; opinion editor resigns in protest While acknowledging Musk’s right to put out his views, Hoffmann added, “He is free to express his opinion. One does not have to share this opinion. After all, freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense." Hoffmann called Musk’s endorsement “a recommendation to vote for a party that is being monitored (by domestic intelligence) on suspicion of being right-wing extremist and which has already been recognised as partly right-wing extremist.” AfD is Germany’s 'last hope': Musk Musk, who will serve as an adviser to Donald Trump’s upcoming administration, called the AfD Germany’s “last hope” in a guest opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. After his opinion piece was published, the paper’s commentary editor resigned in protest. In the article, written in German, Musk defended the AfD, saying, “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Also read: Elon Musk's 'problematic' post on German politics sparks accusations of interference The controversy comes as Germany prepares for parliamentary elections on 23 February, following the collapse of the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This is not the first time Musk has faced criticism from Germany over his political comments. He previously wrote on X that “only the AfD can save Germany,” drawing widespread criticism. At the time, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called Musk’s actions “undignified and problematic,” adding that they might equate election interference. Last month, Musk even called Chancellor Olaf Scholz a “fool” on X. He defended his involvement in German politics by citing his “significant investments” in the country. The AfD is currently polling in second place in the opinion polls. A strong performance by the AfD in the election could complicate coalition-building, as mainstream parties have ruled out working with the AfD at either state or federal levels. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany accuses Elon Musk of 'trying to influence' elections with AfD endorsements

In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party. The AfD, which is considered radical by mainstream parties and faces refusal of cooperation, secured victory in the Sonnenberg district in Thuringia with 52.8 per cent of the vote.&nbsp;

<h2>What does AfD's success mean for Germany?</h2>

This success, as per Guardian, follows the party's record-high national poll ratings and reflects popular discontent with the governing coalition led by Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which has faced challenges over policy and the budget.

<h2>What's the secret of AfD's success?</h2>

The AfD, which was polling at around 19 per cent-20 per cent, has tapped into voter concerns regarding economic recession, migration, and the transition to green policies.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-airport-worker-dies-after-being-sucked-into-plane-engine-investigation-underway-608687">US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway</a>

It has a strong presence in the former Communist East, and polls suggest the party may win three eastern state votes next year.

As per analysts, the "clear" district victory of Robert Sesselmann, an AfD candidate, against a conservative candidate sends a signal to Berlin, especially as all other parties in Sonneberg formed a united front against him.

Riding on the success, the party as per the Reuters report, even plans to nominate a chancellor candidate in the 2025 federal election.&nbsp;

However, the rise of far-right parties, particularly the AfD, remains sensitive in Germany due to the country's Nazi past.

<h2>A 'watershed' moment</h2>

The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, expressed deep shock at the AfD's victory, emphasising that democratic political forces in the country should not simply accept it.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-chief-prigozhin-lost-his-nerve-in-calling-off-rebellion-ex-cia-chief-608701">Wagner chief Prigozhin 'lost his nerve' in calling off rebellion: Ex-CIA chief</a>

Talking to RND Media, he said "This is a watershed that this country's democratic political forces cannot simply accept."&nbsp;

<h2>Why are some elements against AfD?</h2>

The AfD opposes economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict and even denies that human activity is a significant cause of climate change.&nbsp;

Reuters reports&nbsp;that this month Germany's domestic intelligence agency has identified far-right extremism as the biggest threat to democracy in the country and warned voters about supporting the AfD. Founded as an anti-euro party a decade ago, the AfD gained popularity following the 2015 migrant crisis and entered parliament in 2017 as the official opposition.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party.

In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party. The AfD, which is considered radical by mainstream parties and faces refusal of cooperation, secured victory in the Sonnenberg district in Thuringia with 52.8 per cent of the vote. What does AfD's success mean for Germany? This success, as per Guardian, follows the party's record-high national poll ratings and reflects popular discontent with the governing coalition led by Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which has faced challenges over policy and the budget. What's the secret of AfD's success? The AfD, which was polling at around 19 per cent-20 per cent, has tapped into voter concerns regarding economic recession, migration, and the transition to green policies. Also read | US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway It has a strong presence in the former Communist East, and polls suggest the party may win three eastern state votes next year. As per analysts, the "clear" district victory of Robert Sesselmann, an AfD candidate, against a conservative candidate sends a signal to Berlin, especially as all other parties in Sonneberg formed a united front against him. Riding on the success, the party as per the Reuters report, even plans to nominate a chancellor candidate in the 2025 federal election. However, the rise of far-right parties, particularly the AfD, remains sensitive in Germany due to the country's Nazi past. A 'watershed' moment The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, expressed deep shock at the AfD's victory, emphasising that democratic political forces in the country should not simply accept it. Also read | Wagner chief Prigozhin 'lost his nerve' in calling off rebellion: Ex-CIA chief Talking to RND Media, he said "This is a watershed that this country's democratic political forces cannot simply accept." Why are some elements against AfD? The AfD opposes economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict and even denies that human activity is a significant cause of climate change. Reuters reports that this month Germany's domestic intelligence agency has identified far-right extremism as the biggest threat to democracy in the country and warned voters about supporting the AfD. Founded as an anti-euro party a decade ago, the AfD gained popularity following the 2015 migrant crisis and entered parliament in 2017 as the official opposition. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Far-right party Alternative for Germany's candidate becomes district leader for first time

German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats party suffered a heavy setback on Sunday, its second electoral blow in two weeks.&nbsp; 
 
The CDU slumped to its lowest level since 1990 in a Berlin state vote that rejected her open-door refugee policy. 
 
Merkel&#39;s party won just 18 per cent which will likely spell the end of its term as a&nbsp;junior coalition partner to the Social Democrats (SPD), who won almost 22 percent. 
 
Merkel&#39;s decision to open Germany&#39;s borders to refugees a year ago boosted support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.&nbsp;There have been concerns about the cost of letting the migrants in and their integration. 
 
Voters turned to AfD that garnered 12.9 percent of the vote and won 10 of the 16 seats.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;From zero to double digits, that&#39;s unique for Berlin. The grand coalition has been voted out - not yet at the national level, but that will happen next year,&quot; said AfD candidate Georg Pazderski to cheering supporters after the results. 
 
Commentators said the result indicated that the party looked poised to enter the lower house of parliament in 2017. 
 
&quot;With the Berlin result, the AfD has consolidated its position and shown it can appeal to voters across the board - it is now represented in a big city, eastern German states and in more affluent western states like Baden-Wuerttemberg,&quot; said Thomas Jaeger, a&nbsp;political scientist at Cologne University. 
 
A year before the national election, the result will bolster the chances for AfD and raise pressure on Merkel&#39;s party.&nbsp; 
 
The rift within the conservative camp is only expected to deepen with these results. The CSU&#39;s Bavarian finance minister Markus Soeder said this should be viewed as the second massive wake-up call for the allies in Bavaria.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;A long-term and massive loss in trust among traditional voters threatens the conservative bloc,&quot; Soeder said.&nbsp; 
 
He added that major changes to the coalition&#39;s immigration policy were required to win back supporters.&nbsp; 
 
The losses for the biggest parties in Germany raise the possibility of different coalitions in future. 
 
It also cast doubt over whether Europe&#39;s most powerful leader, Angela Merkel will stand for a fourth term next year.&nbsp; 
 
Given a dearth of options in her party, however, she is still the most likely candidate. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The second loss in two weeks for the Christian Democrats has triggered calls from CSU allies to toughen up the migrant policy

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats party suffered a heavy setback on Sunday, its second electoral blow in two weeks. The CDU slumped to its lowest level since 1990 in a Berlin state vote that rejected her open-door refugee policy. Merkel's party won just 18 per cent which will likely spell the end of its term as a junior coalition partner to the Social Democrats (SPD), who won almost 22 percent. Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders to refugees a year ago boosted support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. There have been concerns about the cost of letting the migrants in and their integration. Voters turned to AfD that garnered 12.9 percent of the vote and won 10 of the 16 seats. "From zero to double digits, that's unique for Berlin. The grand coalition has been voted out - not yet at the national level, but that will happen next year," said AfD candidate Georg Pazderski to cheering supporters after the results. Commentators said the result indicated that the party looked poised to enter the lower house of parliament in 2017. "With the Berlin result, the AfD has consolidated its position and shown it can appeal to voters across the board - it is now represented in a big city, eastern German states and in more affluent western states like Baden-Wuerttemberg," said Thomas Jaeger, a political scientist at Cologne University. A year before the national election, the result will bolster the chances for AfD and raise pressure on Merkel's party. The rift within the conservative camp is only expected to deepen with these results. The CSU's Bavarian finance minister Markus Soeder said this should be viewed as the second massive wake-up call for the allies in Bavaria. "A long-term and massive loss in trust among traditional voters threatens the conservative bloc," Soeder said. He added that major changes to the coalition's immigration policy were required to win back supporters. The losses for the biggest parties in Germany raise the possibility of different coalitions in future. It also cast doubt over whether Europe's most powerful leader, Angela Merkel will stand for a fourth term next year. Given a dearth of options in her party, however, she is still the most likely candidate. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Merkel's party suffers setback in Berlin vote, migrant policy backlash boosts support for AfD