- European leaders accuse Musk of interfering in elections and spreading disinformation, while EU Commission announced that his actions will be reviewed under Digital Services Act
ANKARA
Businessman Elon Musk is facing a backlash in Europe for his posts supporting far-right parties, with top leaders accusing him of interfering in elections and their countries’ internal affairs.
The outcry against Musk, also a top ally of incoming US President Donald Trump, began with posts on his X platform praising Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and escalated when he went after particular politicians.
Musk wrote, "Only the AfD can save Germany," and later doubled down on this view.
In a guest column for German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Musk called the AfD "the last spark of hope" for the country.
Musk also sharply criticized President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, calling him "an anti-democratic tyrant,” and adding: "Shame on him."
Musk to host live webcast with AfD’s chancellor hopeful
As the controversy over Musk's open support for the AfD raged on, he announced that he would host a live webcast on X on Thursday with Alice Weidel, the far-right party’s chancellor hopeful in the country’s Feb. 23 elections.
While some in Europe argue that the webcast could influence voters by spreading disinformation, the EU Commission said that under EU law, nothing in the bloc-wide Digital Services Act forbids the owner of a platform or anyone from hosting a live stream representing his personal views.
But EU Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the webcast would be monitored to determine whether it poses a risk to election integrity or violates the act, and if it did, authorities would add this to an ongoing investigation into his X platform.
Germany: Musk is trying to sway next month’s elections
Musk’s vocal support for the far-right ahead of Germany’s early general elections next month has drawn sharp criticism from national politicians.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Musk, stressing: "You, the citizens, decide what happens next in Germany. The owners of social media do not decide that."
He added: "It is not the person who shouts the loudest who decides how things will continue in Germany. It is the vast majority of reasonable and decent people"
Christiane Hoffmann, a spokesperson for Berlin, accused Musk of attempting to influence the elections, while Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck suggested that Musk’s support for the AfD is based on a lack of knowledge.
Habeck highlighted the importance of limiting power and stressed that business models should not be allowed to undermine democracy.
UK government also in Musk’s crosshairs
Musk's recent posts criticizing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the ruling Labour Party have sparked widespread criticism.
On X, Musk posted a poll asking whether the US should "liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government,” adding that "the UK needs to be liberated."
Musk also called for the release of Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the far-right English Defense League who was sentenced to prison, claiming that Robinson – born Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – is a "political prisoner."
The billionaire said: "Why is Tommy Robinson in a solitary confinement prison for telling the truth? He should be freed and those who covered up this travesty should take his place in that cell.”
Musk had already drawn the ire of British politicians last summer for posting “civil war is inevitable,” remarks they said poured fuel on the fire of racist, anti-immigrant riots.
After his latest posts, Starmer strongly criticized Musk's allegations that he failed to adequately prosecute child exploitation gangs during his time as head of the Crown Prosecution Service, accusing Musk – without mentioning him by name – of spreading "lies and misinformation."
In Parliament, independent MP Richard Burgon criticized Musk’s posts targeting the country, telling an Anadolu reporter: “I don’t think we need to take any lectures from the richest man on Earth, who’s peddling far-right nonsense on his social media platform,”
Branding Musk "anti-democratic," Burgon added: “The richest man on Earth shouldn’t think that our democratic system is his plaything.”
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Parliament, accused Musk of "interfering with our country’s democracy when he clearly knows nothing about Britain." He called for the US ambassador to the UK, Jane Hartley, to be summoned to the Foreign Office over Musk, who was born in South Africa but is now a US citizen.
Criticism from Europe
Musk's statements have also drawn criticism from other European leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron accused Musk of interfering in elections, asking: "Who could have imagined, 10 years ago, that the owner of one of the world's largest social networks would intervene directly in elections, including in Germany?"
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store expressed concern over the American billionaire's involvement in the political affairs of countries outside the U.S. He said he hoped that Norwegian politicians would remain level-headed and avoid disputes if Musk commented on Norway.
Bloc urged to take action
European politicians, members of the European Parliament (MEPs), and experts have called on the EU to take action against Musk’s social media posts praising the far right.
At a Monday EU Commission press briefing, Regnier told reporters that an investigation into X for violating the Digital Services Act in December 2023 is still ongoing.
Regnier said the rules of the act do not allow limiting freedom of expression but that necessary measures would be taken if any violations are found.
Regnier also announced that the EU Commission will host a roundtable meeting on Jan. 24 with the German Digital Services Coordinator and global online platforms, including X, to assess risks ahead of Germany’s early general elections.
*Writing by Fatma Zehra Solmaz
