Official statements or reports from Welt am Sonntag

Elon Musk's AfD Endorsement in Welt am Sonntag Prompts Opinion Editor Eva Marie Kogel's Resignation

Dec 28, 2024, 03:56 PM

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has sparked controversy in Germany by penning an opinion piece in the newspaper Welt am Sonntag endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In the article, Musk described the AfD as Germany's "last spark of hope" for economic renewal, cultural stability, and technological innovation, citing his significant investments in Germany's industrial sector. The publication of his op-ed led to internal disputes within the newspaper, resulting in the resignation of Eva Marie Kogel, the head of the opinion section at Welt am Sonntag, who stepped down in protest against the decision to feature Musk's endorsement of the AfD. Despite the internal protests, the newspaper's editors-in-chief defended the decision to publish the article. The incident has ignited a debate over editorial decisions and the rise of far-right politics in Germany.