Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has warned U.S. tech mogul Elon Musk that he could face serious consequences for his interference in the upcoming German elections.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Merz, the leading candidate from the center-right conservative bloc, made it clear that Musk’s actions wouldn’t be overlooked. “What happened in this election campaign cannot go unanswered,” Merz stated. “There could be political or legal responses. I intend to take a calm look at the situation once the election is over.” The country will vote on February 23.
Musk, CEO of Tesla, stirred controversy in Germany by publicly supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) just ahead of the election. His endorsement began last December when he tweeted his backing for the AfD on X, the social media platform he owns. This was followed by a livestreamed discussion with party leader Alice Weidel and even a virtual appearance at the AfD’s conference.
Additionally, Musk didn’t hold back from criticizing Germany’s mainstream politicians on X, calling Chancellor Olaf Scholz a “fool” and proclaiming the AfD as the only party that could “save” Germany.
When asked if any potential government response to Musk’s actions could impact Tesla’s gigafactory near Berlin, Merz remained cautious, saying, “I’m not jumping to conclusions about the consequences just yet.”
Merz also emphasized that authorities need to investigate whether Musk’s support for the AfD might count as an illegal party donation, a concern that transparency groups had previously raised.
Musk, known for his close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has a history of backing populist-right leaders across Europe, including Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage.
According to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls, Merz’s conservatives are in the lead with about 29% support, while the AfD is in second place with 21%. Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens are trailing at 16% and 13%, respectively.
With all mainstream parties rejecting any coalition with the AfD, Merz is likely to form a coalition either with the SPD or the Greens, assuming his party clinches the top spot.
