Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has joined a growing number of European Union (EU) Leaders who have expressed concerns over billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement in politics in the region.
Stirring up hatred
Sánchez said at an event in Madrid on Wednesday without naming the Tesla CEO that he is interfering in European politics and undermining democratic institutions, reported Reuters.
Sánchez accused Musk of aligning with the international far-right, which he claimed actively works to destabilize democratic institutions across Europe. He also mentioned the American billionaire’s perceived support for “the heirs of Nazism in Germany,” referring to the rise of extremist political factions in Europe.
In his annual foreign policy address on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron issued a stark warning about threats to Europe’s democratic institutions, widely interpreted as an indirect reference to Musk, France24 reported.
Macron underscored the risks posed by powerful individuals wielding disproportionate influence over public discourse, potentially undermining the integrity of democratic systems.
Macron alluded to the role of social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), in amplifying disinformation and hate speech, issues that have become more prominent under Musk’s ownership of the platform.
EU policy
Sánchez and Macron’s comments add to the chorus of EU leaders calling for Tougher Regulationof social media platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which will hold platforms accountable for their impact on public discourse.
The shared concerns of Macron and Sánchez come amid a wave of criticism from European leaders over Musk’s approach to content moderation and his alleged alignment with far-right political movements.
The EU leaders’ push for more stringent oversight could face resistance from Musk who has previously framed such actions as attacks on free speech.
Social media posts
Musk has intensified his engagement in European politics through a series of posts and re-posts on his social media platform, X. Since his public backing and financial support of US President-elect Donald Trump’s successful campaign in November, Musk has made waves with his contentious endorsements and pointed criticisms of European leaders.
Last month, the SpaceX CEO was accused of trying to meddle in Germany’s elections. Musk wrote on X that “only the AfD can save Germany” and even called German Chancellor Olaf Scholz a ‘fool’ in a post. His more recent open calls for German voters to back the AfD have sparked outrage and accusations of troubling interference in Europe’s top economy, the Guardian reported.
Musk has defended his involvement in German political discourse, citing his “significant investments” in the country, per Reuters. Musk argued that his investments give him a legitimate stake in Germany’s economic and political environment.
Early election
Germany is set to hold an early federal election on February 23 following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party governing coalition. The coalition, comprising the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Free Democrats, broke down in November last year over disagreements on strategies to revitalize Germany’s Stagnant Economy.
The early election adds to political uncertainty when Germany faces pressing challenges, including high inflation, energy transition pressures, and geopolitical tensions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Key topics expected to dominate the election campaign include economic reforms, energy policy, immigration, and Germany’s role within the European Union (EU).
The dissolution of Scholz’s coalition signals deep divisions among Germany’s political leadership on how best to address these issues, setting the stage for a highly contested election.
