Musk's Congratulatory Call to German Far-Right Party Leader Raises Eyebrows

In a recent election, the hard-right party made history with its highest vote share, prompting a congratulatory phone call from Elon Musk, which has sparked discussion internationally.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has made notable strides in the national elections, despite not achieving the anticipated results. The party, led by Alice Weidel, garnered 20.8 percent of the vote, marking a record high for a far-right party in German history. As a testament to their achievement, Weidel revealed on Monday that she received a personal call from Elon Musk, the world's richest man and advisor to former President Trump, who congratulated her on the party's performance.

Weidel learned of Musk's call the following morning after she slept through it. She noted that upon checking her phone, she found a missed call from the U.S., which turned out to be Musk. Later, Musk publicly backed Weidel on social media by reposting a congratulatory note from Hungary's Viktor Orban, remarking, “Indeed, congratulations @Alice_Weidel! At this rate of growth, @AfD will be the majority party by the next election."

While the AfD's second-place finish, nearly double its prior results in 2021, signified a triumph for the party, it still faced significant hurdles. The Christian Democrats, led by Friedrich Merz, came in first and have since ruled out any coalition with the AfD, ensuring that the party remains unlikely to gain ground in the upcoming government.

Controversially, parts of the AfD have been classified as extremist by German intelligence, primarily due to their hardline stances on immigration and economic policies. However, in a surprising turn, U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Weidel in Munich earlier this month, suggesting that European mainstream parties should engage with far-right factions like the AfD.

Elon Musk's involvement in German elections has become a striking topic, especially following his December statement endorsing the party on his social media platform, X. His subsequent virtual conversation with Weidel and his encouragement to rally support for the AfD at a party meeting signifies significant, albeit controversial, foreign influence in domestic elections.

Despite his well-publicized endorsements, the impact of Musk's support appears limited. Tino Chrupalla, co-leader of the AfD, admitted that while Musk's involvement may not sway potential voters, it has increased interest in the party and attracted donations from the business community.

Christopher F. Schuetze reports from Berlin on the intricate intersections of politics, society, and culture across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, highlighting the evolving narrative surrounding the AfD and its surprising international backing.