German politicians criticize Musk backing for far-right AfD – DW – 12/20/2024
www.dw.com
After Elon Musk posted his support for Germany's far-right AfD, the party's leader Alice Weidel expressed her gratitude. Other German lawmakers have criticized "interference" in the country's upcoming federal elections.

Summary

Elon Musk expressed support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on X, stating “Only the AfD can save Germany.”

Party leader Alice Weidel welcomed his endorsement, urging followers to review her criticisms of German politics.

The AfD, polling at 19% ahead of February’s federal election, is officially under scrutiny as an extremist group by German authorities.

Musk has previously questioned the party’s “far-right” label. Controversy surrounds the AfD, including links to a meeting discussing deportation of migrants.

    • ours@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      8 days ago

      I know far-right extremists aren’t the sharpest bunch or the most well-adjusted but I’m trying and failing to understand the reasoning behind ramming a christmass market as an anti-Islam action.

      • just_an_average_joe@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        4·
        8 days ago

        Maybe to increase religious tensions? He was very anti-muslim, and hated germany for enabling “islamization of europe”.

        So probably in his mind, if he, being saudi, were to attack a christian related event just before the election, it would snowball into some anti-muslim winning election thus him getting what he wanted.

      • killingspark@feddit.orgEnglish
        4·
        8 days ago

        It seems like he had a lot of trouble with state agencies and the justice system lately. He probably snapped and just wanted to hurt people. I don’t think this was an action that was supposed to send a message beyond “the system broke me so everyone must suffer”

    • Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zipEnglish
      1·
      7 days ago

      The site doesnt load for me but afaik it was a 50 year old doctor from saudi arabia that committed the attack. Allegedly, he was unhappy with the treatment oft refugees.

      Also, it would make little sense for someone whos pro-afd to attack a Christmas market

      • just_an_average_joe@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        6 days ago

        He had a website to help women escape Saudi arabia, due to state oppression. He had issues with German state not doing much to stop the spread of islam in germany. He claimed Germany is enabling “islamization of europe”.

        For context, in may 2024 there was a anti-islam rally, and a refugee tried to attack them and ended up attacking a police officer and killing him. This culminated in a historic rise of anti-islam and anti-immigrant AfD. And they won the state election in Thuringia in September.

        Germany currently has federal elections in February, this attack was an attempt to incite anti-islam sentiment again just before the election.

        He was pro-immigrant for ex-muslims, but anti-immigrant for muslim ones (which happen to be the majority).

        • Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zipEnglish
          1·
          5 days ago

          I am german, so I am well aware of the entire situation here.

          However, I don’t feel you can call someone pro-AfD simply because he was opposed to islam. Again, someone who was pro-AfD wouldn’t have chosen to attack a christmas market, but instead a mosque or something.

          If I look through my political beliefs, there are very likely a few things in the AfD manifesto that I agree with. That doesn’t make me pro-AfD. Just as there will be a few things in the green party manifesto I agree with, which does not make me pro-green.

          Calling him pro-AfD is a fairly disgusting attempt of framing imo.