After an op-ed written by tech billionaire Elon Musk endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) party was published last week, a leading German newspaper’s opinion editor resigned in protest on Monday.
Eva Marie Kogel, a long-time staff of Die Welt, a European everyday and its Sunday book Welt am Sonntag, made the announcement on X, the social media platform owned by Musk.
” I generally enjoyed leading the WELT and WAMS view area. Elon Musk wrote an article for Welt am Sonntag now. I resigned tuesday after it was printed. Kogel posted. In her blog, she included a link to the op-ed.
In the run-up to Germany’s February 23 snap election, the AfD, known for its strict attitude on immigration and antagonism to Anglocentric thoughts, has increased in elections.
Musk’s op-ed described the AfD as” the next spark of hope” for Germany. It refuted accusations of fanaticism against the organization, citing its head Alice Weidel’s same-sex union with a Sri Lankan lady as evidence.
Despite the fight, the publication’s receiving editor-in-chief, Jan Philipp Burgard, defended the decision to publish Musk’s part. ” Republic and media thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising posts and classifying them journalistically”, Burgard told Reuters.
In his op-ed, Musk argued that the AfD represents “political authenticity” that speaks with Germans frustrated by the social creation. He highlighted the group’s positions on economic recovery, power source, and migration manage, dismissing allegations of fanaticism.
” The description of the AfD as right-wing fundamentalist is obviously bogus, considering that Alice Weidel, the group’s leader, has a same-sex companion from Sri Lanka! Do you think that sounds like Hitler? Choose”! Musk posted on X.
The op-ed faced criticism across Germany, with some accusing Musk of interfering in the government’s elections. Past health minister Jens Spahn remarked that the AfD opposes NATO, supports restarting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and wants to change Germany’s attention to Russia.
In a counter-op-ed published alongside Musk’s, Burgard criticised Musk’s endorsement of the AfD, saying:” Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his solution—that only the AfD can save Germany —is fatally wrong”.
