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submitted 3 days ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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.

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[-] Lumidaub@feddit.org 185 points 3 days ago

Demonstrating AGAIN that he hasn't got the first idea how German politics work.

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 145 points 3 days ago
[-] Rooskie91@discuss.online 66 points 3 days ago

Why would he care how democracy worked, it's not like he's planning on using it....

[-] ThomasCrappersGhost@feddit.uk 18 points 3 days ago

Great take on school playgrounds though…

[-] jonne@infosec.pub 21 points 3 days ago

Wonder if the cops will show up in force next time there's a protest at his Berlin factory.

[-] django@discuss.tchncs.de 18 points 2 days ago

They should arrest Musk, as soon as he steps on german ground and keep him until he gets his fair trial.

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[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 30 points 2 days ago

Just put out an international arrest warrant for election interference on Musk.

[-] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

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.

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[-] Xerxos@lemmings.world 156 points 3 days ago

Tyrant? ROFL. The president in Germany is largely representative - no real power.

[-] Eril@feddit.org 81 points 3 days ago

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

[-] boonhet@lemm.ee 8 points 2 days ago

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...

[-] Eril@feddit.org 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

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.

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[-] barsoap@lemm.ee 4 points 2 days ago

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.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 51 points 3 days ago

It's not like he would have checked.

[-] heroheman@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago

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.

[-] Floon@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago

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.

[-] random_character_a@lemmy.world 32 points 2 days ago

I think Trump and Elon are gonna have brain damage named after then.

[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 86 points 3 days ago

That guy has so lost it, it would be really funny if it all wasn't so serious.

[-] henfredemars@infosec.pub 78 points 3 days ago

President Musk is an embarrassment.

[-] RamblingPanda@lemmynsfw.com 17 points 2 days ago

As is tradition for American presidents of the last few years. Current one has his moments, but I'm still underwhelmed.

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[-] madjo@feddit.nl 24 points 2 days ago

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.

[-] febra@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

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.

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[-] x00z@lemmy.world 28 points 2 days ago

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.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

There is a term for it: Foreign Election Interference.

[-] minnow@lemmy.world 62 points 2 days ago

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.

[-] Metz@lemmy.world 66 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

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.

[-] FelixCress@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

I am stunned they still have not been banned under the law outlawing nazi parties.

[-] Taleya@aussie.zone 17 points 2 days ago

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 - "

[-] yournamehere@lemm.ee 16 points 2 days ago

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.

[-] Greyghoster@aussie.zone 30 points 2 days ago

Wow the President of the USA calling insulting the President of Germany? Wow would have thought?

[-] ramsorge@discuss.online 25 points 2 days ago

I’d say what I think they should do to him, but these pro-capitalist pig-mods would ban me again.

[-] Rhoeri@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

Based on this comment alone, I couldn’t possibly think they’d have had any reason….

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[-] PlexSheep@infosec.pub 27 points 2 days ago

Musk ist so ne Arschgeige man, Drecksdepp

[-] quafeinum@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago
[-] tired_n_bored@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago

You don't do what I say therefore you're a tyrant! And you don't allow me to say hateful and racist slurs therefore you're not for free speech!

Imbecile. I hope he rots.

[-] perestroika@lemm.ee 22 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Whoever you are, whatever you do - downregulate Musk in the ways you can, for the benefit of societies all over the place.

[-] gencha@lemm.ee 20 points 3 days ago

He's no longer getting tax money for his idiotic projects. Weidel would sell her wife and suck him off if it helps her into power

[-] zbyte64@awful.systems 20 points 3 days ago

Sounds like a badge of honor to me. Maybe it can come with it's own blue checkmark

[-] FelixCress@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Do Germany have any kind of laws Elon just broke? Just asking.

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[-] rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 days ago

Can we declare this asshat a "persona non grata" already? Block X and let him visit his Gigafactory via Zoom until he apologizes.

[-] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

Always blame others for what you are. They can only say "no you" which is a weak comeback.

[-] Unpigged@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 days ago
[-] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago

Nah, the UHC CEO was a bag of dicks. The work just doesn't stop at one.

[-] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 day ago
[-] index@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago

Posting news about who elon musk insults is not how we get rid of him. STOP UPVOTING MUSK THREADS DON'T GIVE HIM ANY ADS

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this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2024
442 points (96.2% liked)

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