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Summary
Elon Musk criticized German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on X, calling him an “anti-democratic tyrant” following Steinmeier’s speech opposing outside interference amid Germany’s political crisis.
Musk, who previously insulted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, plans a public discussion with far-right AfD leader Alice Weidel, prompting accusations of endorsing far-right politics.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck called Musk’s influence a threat to European democracy and urged action to limit his power.
Musk has also sparked controversy in the UK, aligning with right-wing figures like Nigel Farage and targeting PM Keir Starmer.
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Demonstrating AGAIN that he hasn’t got the first idea how German politics work.
Or democracy.
Why would he care how democracy worked, it’s not like he’s planning on using it…
Great take on school playgrounds though…
Wonder if the cops will show up in force next time there’s a protest at his Berlin factory.
They should arrest Musk, as soon as he steps on german ground and keep him until he gets his fair trial.
Yeah, let’s show him how democracy and actual justice works.
Of course. Like all cops, their first duty is protecting the possessions of rich and powerful people from the righteous wrath of the rest of us. That takes precedence over the system, which takes precedence over the country, which takes precedence over the non–rich politically powerful, who take precedence over non-rich people who don’t have political power.
If you don’t know where in the hierarchy of “cops caring whether you live or die” you are, chances are you’re either dangerously close to the bottom or clueless about your privilege.
Except what happens when the rich piss off the ones who hold the leash. Then things get interesting.
The German government may not be so quick to act in cases where Musk’s property and companies were the victims…
You throw money at them until you’re the de facto leader of the country.
Tyrant? ROFL. The president in Germany is largely representative - no real power.
Yeah, you have to be really interested in German politics too ever hear anything about or from him, even living in Germany😅 Not exactly tyrant type stuff
I’m not German, but isn’t the most powerful office that of the chancellor?
For decades the only German politician you’d hear about in the media was Merkel and last I recall, she wasn’t the president…
The Chancellor (now Scholz and before that Merkel) are the heads of government and are, in practice, more influential. Technically the president (“Bundespräsident”), which is the head of state, stands above the Chancellor and so does the president of parliament (“Bundestagspräsident”). But this is mostly a ceremonial hierarchy and while the president has to “check” laws and sign them to take effect, this is basically always happening. In general the president is mostly a ceremonial position.
You hear a lot more about the chancellor, because as head of government, they are the only ones actually involved in creating/changing laws (of the positions mentioned).
Edit: If my research is correct, it only happened 8 times since 1949 that a president did not sign a law that was accepted by parliament and the last time was 2006. So it really is a pretty rare occurrence.
I think that’s roughly the same here in Estonia, except we call our head of gvt prime minister.
The “checking laws” thing is actually not mentioned in the constitution but the argument is that the president is a constitutional organ, and it cannot be expected from a constitutional organ to sign an unconstitutional law when another constitutional organ puts it on their desk. Just as you can’t expect a notary to notarise an unconscionable contract.
Parliament is free to sue when that happens, and the constitutional court will decide, not the president, if the court says the law is fine the president has to sign.
In Germany everyone can bring any law affecting them before the constitutional court to have it checked, the president’s implicit right is similar but they can do it even if not personally affected, and before it comes into force.
The most powerful institution is the constitutional court, the buck stops with them. Chancellor heads the governing and thus does a lot, President is the notary of the state, first diplomat, and also high priest. Meaning responsible for non-partisan speeches emphasising common values, ceremony, and sprinklings of wisdom.
It’s not like he would have checked.
That guy has so lost it, it would be really funny if it all wasn’t so serious.
President Musk is an embarrassment.
As is tradition for American presidents of the last few years. Current one has his moments, but I’m still underwhelmed.
All hail Earth Emperor Musk
Just put out an international arrest warrant for election interference on Musk.
Wouldn’t that just mean he couldn’t visit Germany? I can’t possibly see any country actually arresting him and I don’t know if that would be enough for any kind of extradition.
Have you read the word “international” in my post? Theoretically, even the US would have to fulfil here, but I doubt they will serve justice.
The thought that he could actually somehow help the AfD to victory scares the hell out of me. Once they are in power, they will not voluntarily give it up again. We have to stop them before the elections, by any means necessary.
The EU should sanction the US for political interference the same way we’ve sanctioned Russia.
I am stunned they still have not been banned under the law outlawing nazi parties.
Steinmeier: “Elon is a threat to European democracy”
Elon: “No, you are!”
Here’s the richest man in the world, but he still can’t buy better comebacks.
I think Trump and Elon are gonna have brain damage named after then.
If “anti-democratic” is on one side of of a scale, Steini is definitely on the opposing end.
Elmo should stop using ketamine instead of trying to destabilizing other countries.
Part of a democracy is that voters should be educated fairly on what they are voting on.
So Musk using his influence to meddle with this process is anti democratic.
There is a term for it: Foreign Election Interference.
How very diplomatic of him. Surely that’s going to help further US’ foreign relations.
Then again, president musk and first wasband trump would rather work with actual tyrants like putin, idiots like farage and the AfD, and probably with wannabe prime minister geert wilders.
Surely that’s going to help further US’ foreign relations.
I don’t know how to tell you this, but as a German citizen, our government is more than willing to suck up to the US whatever they do. Hell, we’ve seen all the “left wing” politicians from the current coalition rush to welcome Trump in office now that he won the election, whereas a year or two ago they were more than willing to shit on him publicly.
Someday I hope we all get to see what kompromat Putin has on them. It has to be really awful.
Then again, president musk and first wasband trump would rather work with actual tyrants
They’d rather suck up to actual tyrants in an attempt to learn their ways.
Wow the President of the USA calling insulting the President of Germany? Wow would have thought?
Musk ist so ne Arschgeige man, Drecksdepp
Was 1 Otto
I think the funniest part about this is how musk rants and tantrums and stamps his little feets and Germany barely looks at him and goes "Anyway - "
I’d say what I think they should do to him, but these pro-capitalist pig-mods would ban me again.
Based on this comment alone, I couldn’t possibly think they’d have had any reason….
Hey, you love capitalism. Lmk how that works out.
I can definitely definitively see why you got banned.
I’d say “you’re not wrong, you’re just an asshole” but you’re wrong too. You’re so deep in your slogans that you completely lost the fact that life isn’t that easy. There is no one size fits all government type, and your “Communism fixes everything” attitude is about as naive as it gets.
There are some good ideas in communism, sure. There are also loads of bad ideas in communism that simply won’t work. Overall communism is NOT the most successful system, which is why by now almost no country uses it anymore, and most countries that had it, no longer do.
Like it or not, capitalism is the most successful system to create new resources, it’s why the US won and Russia lost, back in the day. Capitalism also has a boat load of bad ideas, many of which are currently running wild, which is why the US sucks so bad right now.
The solution is not to just drop capitalism and switch to full blown communism, especially if you want to avoid “fun” situations of having Cheka security murdering everyone who disagrees (watch “the chemists”, it’s a fun indication of what to expect!)
The solution is to pick the best pieces of both, and curtail the worst ideas and impulses of both systems. Use a limited and highly controlled capitalist system that gives people the freedom to trade however they want. Use income and networth based taxes to ensure no-no can get crazy rich. Use the high tax revenue to support a socialist system that ensures all people have all the basic rights whether they (can) work or not; food, water, healthcare, housing, education, internet access… It allows everyone to be free to live how they want, not something you’ll see under communism.
Either way, calling people “capitalist pigs” just shows you’re immature and that you’re spouting slogans.
Well fucking said!
