Elon Musk surprised many by addressing the campaign launched for Germany AfD party

Germany: As tens of thousands of people nationwide demonstrated against the emergence of the divisive party, American tech millionaire Elon Musk shocked many by speaking at the campaign kickoff for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday, according to the media report.

Ahead of Germany’s February 23 snap elections, Musk spoke live on video to a crowd of over 4,500 AfD supporters in Halle, expressing his strong support for the party and referring to it as the nation’s “best hope.”

Musk mirrored the nationalist views of the AfD when he appeared with Alice Weidel, the party’s candidate for chancellor, stating that “people take pride in Germany and being German.” The audience erupted in thunderous applause as the remark was made. Musk also spoke on immigration, a major election topic, urging the preservation of national identity and cautioning against the perils of “multiculturalism that dilutes everything.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition administration collapsed in December when he lost a vote of confidence, setting off the impending elections in Germany.

The AfD has risen in national surveys, lately becoming the first far-right party to win a state election since the Nazi period. However, conventional parties have rejected any cooperation with the AfD because of its harsh anti-immigrant views, CNN said.

Over the weekend, there were several demonstrations against the AfD’s ascent. Demonstrators held placards condemning the party and sang anti-fascist songs as they gathered at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. Other cities saw similar demonstrations, such as Cologne, where marches against far-right extremism drew tens of thousands of participants. Speaking to the masses, climate activist Luisa Neubauer warned of the perils of the AfD’s policies and language, claiming that they jeopardize environmental advancement and social harmony.

Musk has come under fire, especially from German authorities, for his increasing influence in European affairs. After he openly embraced the AfD and criticized Scholz, government officials accused him of meddling in the nation’s political process. Musk dubbed Scholz an “incompetent fool” and demanded his resignation in the weeks before the campaign’s start.

Additionally, he has drawn comparisons between the political environments in Germany and the US, asking people to welcome change in the same manner that many did when they voted for Donald Trump in 2016.

Government officials have warned of the possible repercussions of the tech billionaire’s support of AfD, which has provoked criticism. According to CNN, Lars Klingbeil, a co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), charged Musk with interfering in the German elections and likened his behavior to that of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Klingbeil, both are trying to undermine Germany and undermine democracy. Friedrich Merz, the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), also criticized Musk’s remarks, calling them an unusual interference in an ally’s domestic issues.

Musk has persisted in endorsing populist groups in Europe in spite of the criticism, asserting that the AfD is in the best place to allay the annoyances of German voters. He emphasized the election’s worldwide importance in his speech on Saturday, saying, “I think it could decide the entire fate of Europe, maybe the fate of the world.”