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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Responds To Elon Musk's Criticism

In this picture taken through a window, President-elect Donald Trump, from left, Trump's pick for the planned Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk and Vice President-elect JD Vance attend the

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has responded calmly to critical remarks made by billionaire Elon Musk, expressing concern over Musk's endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the upcoming general election.

Scholz, who leads the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), dismissed Musk's insults as typical of wealthy media entrepreneurs who disagree with social democratic policies. He emphasized the need to remain composed in the face of such criticism.

However, Scholz expressed greater unease over Musk's support for the AfD, a party that has been monitored by Germany's domestic intelligence service for suspected right-wing extremism. The AfD's stance on issues such as relations with Russia and transatlantic cooperation has raised concerns among political circles.

Following the collapse of Scholz's coalition government in November, Musk publicly criticized the chancellor and later endorsed the AfD in a newspaper opinion piece. This move by Musk has sparked controversy and led to the resignation of a newspaper editor in protest.

Germany is gearing up for an early parliamentary election on Feb. 23, prompted by the dissolution of Scholz's coalition over economic revitalization strategies. Despite the AfD's strong polling numbers, the party's candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, faces significant challenges due to other parties' reluctance to collaborate with the far-right group.

Musk's intervention in German politics has raised eyebrows, with his comments and support for the AfD drawing attention both domestically and internationally. The implications of external influences on the country's political landscape remain a topic of debate as the election approaches.

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