Germany’s parliament is reportedly investigating whether a scheduled online discussion between Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur, and Alice Weidel, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, might breach the country’s election laws.
The planned conversation, set for January 9 at 7 p.m. CET on X (formerly Twitter), has stirred the pot among German media, political elites, and activist groups, many of whom are determined to keep the anti-globalist AfD from gaining exposure.
At the heart of the inquiry is whether the podcast could qualify as an illegal campaign donation under German law. A press release from the NGO LobbyControl on January 8 prompted the investigation, claiming that such a public platform could count as free advertising, which German electoral law treats as a donation. Since donations from outside the EU are prohibited, Musk and X’s U.S.-based operations might make this podcast problematic.
“In this case, the facts are currently being clarified,” a Bundestag spokesperson confirmed, acknowledging the investigation. However, critics of the probe pointed out that Twitter International Unlimited Company, which handles X’s European activities, operates out of Dublin, Ireland—an EU member state. This detail, curiously, has not been mentioned by either LobbyControl or parliament officials.
Calls for the EU to intervene have grown louder ahead of the event, with both German and European politicians urging stricter oversight. The EU has announced that over 100 officials will monitor the discussion for potential violations of regulations.
Musk, meanwhile, hasn’t held back his criticism. He accused the EU of trying to stifle democracy, claiming this latest attempt to interfere echoes past efforts to silence him. “First, the EU tried to stop me from having an online conversation with President [Donald Trump]. Now, they want to prevent people from hearing a conversation with [Alice Weidel], who might be the next Chancellor of Germany,” Musk tweeted on January 8. “These guys really hate democracy!!”
AfD MEP Siegbert Droese also defended the podcast, framing it as a crucial opportunity to highlight the importance of free speech—a principle, he argued, that’s under threat in Germany and across Europe. “We must support people like Musk, who is very much in favor of freedom of expression,” Droese said in an interview with European media. “The old policies have placed very strong limits on speech here.”
The conversation between Musk and Weidel is set against the backdrop of mounting tensions over free speech and political discourse in Europe. While critics attempt to paint the event as a breach of rules, supporters see it as a stand against censorship and a vital exercise in democratic engagement. As Musk’s growing influence disrupts the traditional power dynamics in Europe, this podcast may mark yet another flashpoint in the battle over who controls the narrative.
