Summary
Elon Musk criticized German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on X, calling him an “anti-democratic tyrant” following Steinmeier’s speech opposing outside interference amid Germany’s political crisis.
Musk, who previously insulted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, plans a public discussion with far-right AfD leader Alice Weidel, prompting accusations of endorsing far-right politics.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck called Musk’s influence a threat to European democracy and urged action to limit his power.
Musk has also sparked controversy in the UK, aligning with right-wing figures like Nigel Farage and targeting PM Keir Starmer.
Demonstrating AGAIN that he hasn’t got the first idea how German politics work.
Or democracy.
Why would he care how democracy worked, it’s not like he’s planning on using it…
Great take on school playgrounds though…
Wonder if the cops will show up in force next time there’s a protest at his Berlin factory.
They should arrest Musk, as soon as he steps on german ground and keep him until he gets his fair trial.
Yeah, let’s show him how democracy and actual justice works.
Of course. Like all cops, their first duty is protecting the possessions of rich and powerful people from the righteous wrath of the rest of us. That takes precedence over the system, which takes precedence over the country, which takes precedence over the non–rich politically powerful, who take precedence over non-rich people who don’t have political power.
If you don’t know where in the hierarchy of “cops caring whether you live or die” you are, chances are you’re either dangerously close to the bottom or clueless about your privilege.
Except what happens when the rich piss off the ones who hold the leash. Then things get interesting.
The German government may not be so quick to act in cases where Musk’s property and companies were the victims…
You throw money at them until you’re the de facto leader of the country.
Tyrant? ROFL. The president in Germany is largely representative - no real power.
Yeah, you have to be really interested in German politics too ever hear anything about or from him, even living in Germany😅 Not exactly tyrant type stuff
I’m not German, but isn’t the most powerful office that of the chancellor?
For decades the only German politician you’d hear about in the media was Merkel and last I recall, she wasn’t the president…
The Chancellor (now Scholz and before that Merkel) are the heads of government and are, in practice, more influential. Technically the president (“Bundespräsident”), which is the head of state, stands above the Chancellor and so does the president of parliament (“Bundestagspräsident”). But this is mostly a ceremonial hierarchy and while the president has to “check” laws and sign them to take effect, this is basically always happening. In general the president is mostly a ceremonial position.
You hear a lot more about the chancellor, because as head of government, they are the only ones actually involved in creating/changing laws (of the positions mentioned).
Edit: If my research is correct, it only happened 8 times since 1949 that a president did not sign a law that was accepted by parliament and the last time was 2006. So it really is a pretty rare occurrence.
I think that’s roughly the same here in Estonia, except we call our head of gvt prime minister.
The “checking laws” thing is actually not mentioned in the constitution but the argument is that the president is a constitutional organ, and it cannot be expected from a constitutional organ to sign an unconstitutional law when another constitutional organ puts it on their desk. Just as you can’t expect a notary to notarise an unconscionable contract.
Parliament is free to sue when that happens, and the constitutional court will decide, not the president, if the court says the law is fine the president has to sign.
In Germany everyone can bring any law affecting them before the constitutional court to have it checked, the president’s implicit right is similar but they can do it even if not personally affected, and before it comes into force.
The most powerful institution is the constitutional court, the buck stops with them. Chancellor heads the governing and thus does a lot, President is the notary of the state, first diplomat, and also high priest. Meaning responsible for non-partisan speeches emphasising common values, ceremony, and sprinklings of wisdom.
It’s not like he would have checked.
Just put out an international arrest warrant for election interference on Musk.
Wouldn’t that just mean he couldn’t visit Germany? I can’t possibly see any country actually arresting him and I don’t know if that would be enough for any kind of extradition.
Have you read the word “international” in my post? Theoretically, even the US would have to fulfil here, but I doubt they will serve justice.
If “anti-democratic” is on one side of of a scale, Steini is definitely on the opposing end.
Elmo should stop using ketamine instead of trying to destabilizing other countries.
I think Trump and Elon are gonna have brain damage named after then.
That guy has so lost it, it would be really funny if it all wasn’t so serious.
President Musk is an embarrassment.
As is tradition for American presidents of the last few years. Current one has his moments, but I’m still underwhelmed.
All hail Earth Emperor Musk
The oligarchy of the US has made Musk feel too strong, too powerful. The rest of the world isn’t quite there, as odd as that sounds.
How very diplomatic of him. Surely that’s going to help further US’ foreign relations.
Then again, president musk and first wasband trump would rather work with actual tyrants like putin, idiots like farage and the AfD, and probably with wannabe prime minister geert wilders.
Surely that’s going to help further US’ foreign relations.
I don’t know how to tell you this, but as a German citizen, our government is more than willing to suck up to the US whatever they do. Hell, we’ve seen all the “left wing” politicians from the current coalition rush to welcome Trump in office now that he won the election, whereas a year or two ago they were more than willing to shit on him publicly.
Someday I hope we all get to see what kompromat Putin has on them. It has to be really awful.
Then again, president musk and first wasband trump would rather work with actual tyrants
They’d rather suck up to actual tyrants in an attempt to learn their ways.
Steinmeier: “Elon is a threat to European democracy”
Elon: “No, you are!”
Here’s the richest man in the world, but he still can’t buy better comebacks.
The thought that he could actually somehow help the AfD to victory scares the hell out of me. Once they are in power, they will not voluntarily give it up again. We have to stop them before the elections, by any means necessary.
The EU should sanction the US for political interference the same way we’ve sanctioned Russia.
I am stunned they still have not been banned under the law outlawing nazi parties.
Part of a democracy is that voters should be educated fairly on what they are voting on.
So Musk using his influence to meddle with this process is anti democratic.
There is a term for it: Foreign Election Interference.
I think the funniest part about this is how musk rants and tantrums and stamps his little feets and Germany barely looks at him and goes "Anyway - "
he is just looking for an excuse to pull his shit factories from east germany.
like every nazi elon needs to feel like the victim. all nazis do that - look at maga fucks.
space karen didnt get what she wanted in brandenburg…like the right to pollute the citizens like it was america. so now the PoS will insult opponents as long as it takes until someone is triggered to react. that will be the big mental ejaculation for the facist to claim to be the victim to justify their crimes.
so first and foremost it is important to harm the maga base. next vacation we’ll all try stealing from american tourists, spit in their soups and quit buying shitty american products.
Wow the President of the USA calling insulting the President of Germany? Wow would have thought?
