The Alternative for Germany party, known as AfD, celebrated its best electoral performance, leading to a personal call from Elon Musk that caught the attention of political analysts.
Musk Reaches Out to Alice Weidel Following AfD Election Success
Musk Reaches Out to Alice Weidel Following AfD Election Success
Elon Musk's congratulatory call marks a notable moment in German politics as the far-right AfD party claims a historic electoral result.
The hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party celebrated a significant electoral milestone during the recent elections. Although the party, led by candidate Alice Weidel, fell short of expected results, garnering 20.8% of the vote, it marked their best performance in history. This achievement prompted a congratulatory call from billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who reached out to Weidel, expressing personal congratulations.
Weidel shared with reporters that she missed Musk's phone call the night of the election, only to discover it the next morning. Following the ballot results, Musk took to social media to publicly acknowledge Weidel's success, reposting a message from Hungarian leader Victor Orban and adding, "Indeed, congratulations @Alice_Weidel! At this rate of growth, @AfD will be the majority party by the next election."
The election results positioned the AfD in second place, nearly doubling their share from 2021 and achieving a historic high for far-right parties since World War II. However, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the winning Christian Democrats, has dismissed the possibility of coalition with the AfD, leaving Weidel's party on the sidelines of formal governance.
The AfD focuses on issues such as restricting immigration and strengthening economic policies, though segments of the party have been classified as extremist by German authorities. Despite this, recent interactions involve significant U.S. figures endorsing Weidel and the AfD. Vice President JD Vance met with Weidel earlier, advocating for integration of far-right factions into mainstream politics.
Musk's previous endorsements of the AfD — including a 75-minute video discussion on his platform X — have raised eyebrows, particularly his comments on the historical context of Germany. Despite his attempts to stoke interest and engage supporters to rally for the party, some within the AfD acknowledge that Musk may not sway the electorate as initially hoped, yet it has sparked attention and some funding from business circles.
The unique involvement of Musk, a foreign national and advisor to a former U.S. president, in German electoral matters reveals an evolving political landscape where global influences converge with local dynamics. As the AfD looks ahead, the implications of high-profile endorsements will continue to be analyzed in the context of German politics.
Weidel shared with reporters that she missed Musk's phone call the night of the election, only to discover it the next morning. Following the ballot results, Musk took to social media to publicly acknowledge Weidel's success, reposting a message from Hungarian leader Victor Orban and adding, "Indeed, congratulations @Alice_Weidel! At this rate of growth, @AfD will be the majority party by the next election."
The election results positioned the AfD in second place, nearly doubling their share from 2021 and achieving a historic high for far-right parties since World War II. However, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the winning Christian Democrats, has dismissed the possibility of coalition with the AfD, leaving Weidel's party on the sidelines of formal governance.
The AfD focuses on issues such as restricting immigration and strengthening economic policies, though segments of the party have been classified as extremist by German authorities. Despite this, recent interactions involve significant U.S. figures endorsing Weidel and the AfD. Vice President JD Vance met with Weidel earlier, advocating for integration of far-right factions into mainstream politics.
Musk's previous endorsements of the AfD — including a 75-minute video discussion on his platform X — have raised eyebrows, particularly his comments on the historical context of Germany. Despite his attempts to stoke interest and engage supporters to rally for the party, some within the AfD acknowledge that Musk may not sway the electorate as initially hoped, yet it has sparked attention and some funding from business circles.
The unique involvement of Musk, a foreign national and advisor to a former U.S. president, in German electoral matters reveals an evolving political landscape where global influences converge with local dynamics. As the AfD looks ahead, the implications of high-profile endorsements will continue to be analyzed in the context of German politics.
