Elon Musk Surprises at AfD Launch as Germany Protests Far-Right

American billionaire Elon Musk made a sudden appearance at the launch event of Germany’s far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). The gathering took place in Halle, a city in eastern Germany, drawing around 4, 500 supporters. Musk praised the party, calling it Germany's "best hope" for the upcoming general election scheduled for February 23. This remarks received huge cheers from the crowd. The election follows Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s loss of a confidence vote, leading to snap elections. Germany, being Europe's largest economy, is at a critical juncture. The AfD has surged in popularity, winning a state election for the first time since World War II and performing strongly in opinion polls. Despite its success, the party faces criticism for its strict anti-immigrant stance. Other mainstream parties have distanced themselves from the AfD. Elon Musk, known for his closeness with former US President Donald Trump, emphasized the importance of national pride during his speech. He cautioned against embracing multiculturalism, which he believes could dilute German identity. In contrast, thousands of Germans demonstrated against the far-right party across several cities, including Berlin and Cologne. Climate activist Luisa Neubauer warned that supporting AfD and opposing climate protection is dangerous. Musk’s involvement in European politics has sparked concern among government leaders. The UK Prime Minister accused him of spreading "lies, " and Musk has pushed for the release of jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Despite backlash, Musk continues to champion populist movements, highlighting the global impact of Germany's election. "This election could shape the future of Europe, maybe the world, " he said.

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