Summary

Germany accused Elon Musk of trying to influence its February 2024 election by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) through social media posts and a commentary in Welt am Sonntag.

Musk praised the AfD’s positions on regulation and taxes, calling them Germany’s saviors.

His actions sparked backlash, with opposition leader Friedrich Merz calling it unprecedented interference and SPD leader Saskia Esken vowing to resist influence from wealthy elites.

The Welt editor who published Musk’s piece resigned, while the AfD, polling second, remains shunned by mainstream parties.

  • @[email protected]
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    44 days ago

    kinda yeah – I’d argue that people rarely vote “tactfully” in Germany (vote for purple otherwise yellow will win), so if one party is rampant with corruption and the media reports it, then people can happily vote for another party.

    Or the party itself can split off into something else, as what with happened with the BSW being an interesting faction centred around one woman (though I’ve heard she is quite progressive).

    Contrast that all with the UK. The only true left-wing leader we had was Jeremy Corbyn and his own party (Labour) cannibalized him. Due to our FPTP voting system, the left still had to vote for Labour or let the Tories win.

    • @[email protected]
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      94 days ago

      I mean, right now people are desperate to prevent the AfD so many of us are indeed considering which of the larger parties to vote for, just for that purpose alone. So we do have that sort of phenomenon but to a lesser extent.

      Calling it “chaos”, like it’s a bad thing that change in the landscape is easier than elsewhere, is still curious lol.

      I’ve heard she is quite progressive

      She considers herself leftist but that’s all it is.

      • @[email protected]
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        44 days ago

        Chaos

        I meant it in a good sense. In the Chaos Computer Club sense.

        considers herself leftist

        I’ve heard she’s got some good anti-corruption policies, but that’s all I know. I do find it weird that there’s a whole party centred around one person.

        • @[email protected]
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          44 days ago

          Chaos Computer Club

          Got it lol

          Not every opinion Wagenknecht has voiced in the past has been bad but in general, imho, she and her people just like being against whatever the government does (they do have that in common with the AfD). Also she longs for the good old GDR days so there’s that.

          I do find it weird that there’s a whole party centred around one person.

          Yes.

      • Skeezix
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        24 days ago

        You mean that?