Former Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse (SPD) sees in Elon Musk’s attack on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier a “fundamental attack on German democracy”. In the “Tagesspiegel” (Friday edition), Thierse accused the billionaire of wanting to “destroy” democracy in Germany, a partner of the designated US President Donald Trump.
“Musk has not only criticized the Chancellor and called for the election of the AfD. Now he’s even attacking the President and thus the democratic representative of the German people” Thierse said. “This is a fundamental attack on German democracy, a questioning of German democracy.” Musk had written on his platform X: “Steinmeier is an antidemocratic tyrant. Shame on him.”
This attack on the head of state is “no small matter that can be dismissed” Thierse said. “Musk is no private person. As the richest man in the world, as a media entrepreneur, and as a member of Donald Trump’s inner circle, he has enormous power. He uses this power to destroy German democracy.”
Germany is dealing with a “double influence” in this election campaign: “secret and hidden influence through Putin’s Russia and public and open influence through Elon Musk.” Musk is pushing Germany into a dilemma: “If we get upset about his influence on the German election campaign, we increase the attention in his favor and in favor of the AfD.” But one cannot remain silent in the face of attacks on democracy.
Thierse said he hopes that “all democratic parties” and “all democratic journalists” in Germany “will reject these attacks on democracy.” He is not sure, however. “The political fear in Germany, apparently also among media companies, of Elon Musk’s power is palpable.