Musk calls far-right AfD party saviours of Germany

Elon Musk has described the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as the country's saviour, sparking calls from Berlin for the US billionaire to "stay out" of their politics.

- TOM WATLING

In a post on X, Mr Musk's social media platform, the mogul wrote that "only the AfD can save Germany". His message topped a video, which he retweeted, of a German right-wing influencer, Naomi Seibt, known for her closeness to the AfD and for denying human-caused climate change.

The AfD is running second in opinion polls and may be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority, but Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have vowed to shun support from the AfD at a national level. Europe’s leading power is expected to vote on 23 February after the centre-left coalition government led by chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed.

Asked about Mr Musk’s comment at a news conference with his Estonian counterpart, Mr Scholz said: “We have freedom of opinion – it also goes for multibillionaires, but freedom of opinion also means that you can say things that aren't right and don't contain good political advice. I say emphatically that the democratic parties in Germany all see it differently," he added.