Europe worried: will Musk help the right wing gain ground?

Norwegian PM concerned about Musk's influence on European elections

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahre Store has expressed his concern about the influence of tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is increasingly playing a role in European domestic politics, on elections. This has already been noted by leaders of other European countries, especially in the UK and Germany, where Musk has been most active recently.

"I find it disturbing that a man with significant access to social networks and significant economic resources should be so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries", Store told Norwegian public radio NRK.

Meanwhile, the political analysis website Politico points out that the activities of Musk's social platform X (formerly known as Twitter), which is a defender of traditional values, could become a "powerful propaganda tool for Europe's right-wing and radical right-wing groups". Experts point out that this could jeopardize democratic processes, especially in the run-up to crucial elections in European countries^[1].

The billionaire's activities are said to have the potential to influence the Polish presidential elections in the spring, the Romanian elections following the Constitutional Court rulings, the Czech parliamentary elections in the autumn and the Irish elections in November.

Musk's recent support for Germany's right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has also caused much debate. He is also reportedly planning a direct conversation via his Platform X with the leader of this party, Alice Weidel.

E. Musk has also publicly criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, statements that raise questions about the billionaire's political intentions. Some analysts link this to Donald Trump's possible goals after he becomes President of the US, which could change the dynamics between the US and European countries.

However, it is also worth remembering the reasons why Musk has begun to speak out on domestic political issues in these countries in the first place - Germany's 'open door' policy has brought the government itself to the brink of annihilation, and the Germans have begun to stop tolerating foreigners altogether, even when they are successfully integrating into the domestic market. As a result of the influx of third-country immigrants, Germany is facing massive terrorist attacks, the latest of which took place just before the major holidays and claimed more than one victim.

Meanwhile, the decisions of the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, have already made the British people jump up from their sofas, especially farmers, whose hands have been tied by the introduction of unfavorable inheritance tax reforms, the non-payment of which means that farmland is handed over to the state.

E. Macron fears that Europeans may choose the wrong person because of Musk?

Meanwhile, Musk, who has become the right-hand man of Trump's return to the White House, has already been criticized by French President Emmanuel Macron for his "direct interference" in global elections, including the upcoming vote in Germany. In a speech on French foreign policy, Macron expressed concern about Musk's support for reactionary movements and for Germany's far-right AfD party, which is a suspected extremist group^[2].

E. Musk's opinion piece in a German newspaper defending the AfD caused controversy and forced the editor to resign. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the billionaire's criticism, stressing the resilience of democratic values.

Musk, the world's richest man, has also supported other anti-liberal figures, such as Tommy Robinson, an activist against unbridled immigration, calling for his release after he was convicted of violating a court order. Musk has also criticized Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right UK Reform Party, saying Farage is unfit to lead. For his part, Farage replied that he did not share Mr Musk's views and would continue defending his principles.

The tech billionaire's recent moves to bring Europe to a more honest path, highlighting the unstable political situation in the UK and Germany, have been criticized by more than one European leader. Are they afraid that the end of their era has come?

The battle between Musk and British PM Starmer heats up

E. Musk has sparked real political tension by posting a poll on his social media platform X asking whether the US should "free the British people from their tyrannical government".

More recently, Starmer denounced the billionaire for spreading "lies and misinformation," particularly about Starmer's previous work on child protection cases, which he said Musk had criticized unfairly.

Meanwhile, rumors of Musk's planned financial support for the Reform Party led by Farage were circulating only recently after Musk and Farage met at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private residence. During this meeting, it was reported that Musk might donate up to USD 100 million to support the growing political movement.

Billionaire and Eurosceptic Farage's relationship is like a roller coaster

The most talked-about issue at the moment is Musk's relationship with Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Reform Party, which seems to have gone the way of the black cat of late. Musk has criticized Farage on social media, saying that he "doesn't have what it takes" to lead the UK Reform Party. However, Musk later supported Farage's report on the underage recruitment scandals in the UK, replying 'yes' to a video calling for a full national investigation^[3].

The row came after Farage distanced himself from jailed activist Tom Robinson and his party, claiming that he "never sells out his principles". Musk's criticism coincided with reports that Labour had blocked a national inquiry into recruitment scandals, prompting the tech billionaire to attack Prime Minister Starmer and other officials, accusing them of mishandling the crisis and of "contributing to the rape of Britain".

Recruitment scandals involving large-scale child abuse in areas such as Rotherham and Telford have been the subject of numerous investigations, some of which have been linked to political sensitivities over race. Musk's frank comments have fuelled an ongoing debate about accountability and political leadership in the UK.