this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2024
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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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[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 30 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

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.

[–] random_character_a@lemmy.world 32 points 6 days ago

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

[–] heroheman@lemmy.world 22 points 6 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.

[–] madjo@feddit.nl 24 points 6 days ago (3 children)

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 6 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.

[–] blarth@thelemmy.club 3 points 6 days ago

Someday I hope we all get to see what kompromat Putin has on them. It has to be really awful.

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

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.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 17 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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 6 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.

[–] tired_n_bored@lemmy.world 12 points 6 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.

[–] Floon@lemmy.ml 5 points 6 days 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.

[–] Unpigged@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 days ago

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

[–] index@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago

What ads do you mean? If it was a link to Twitter, I'd understand, but this is to Deutsche Welle.

[–] mhague@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Each country is a bit different, but only if you're working class. Otherwise the world is one big oyster for a billionaire. Makes sense how he perfectly slots in to the worst elements in each country.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

He also announced a plan to speak to the leader of the country's far-right AfD.

And then what?

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

Figure out a way to funnel money...

[–] Prior_Industry@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

Here is a big bag of money sir. I will be in touch if you win.

[–] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 6 days ago
[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 186 points 1 week ago (7 children)

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

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 145 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] Rooskie91@discuss.online 66 points 1 week ago

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

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[–] Xerxos@lemmings.world 156 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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

[–] Eril@feddit.org 81 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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 6 days ago (2 children)

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 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 2 points 6 days ago

I think that's roughly the same here in Estonia, except we call our head of gvt prime minister.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

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.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 4 points 6 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 1 week ago

It's not like he would have checked.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 86 points 1 week ago

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

[–] henfredemars@infosec.pub 78 points 1 week ago (2 children)

President Musk is an embarrassment.

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[–] Metz@lemmy.world 66 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] FelixCress@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago

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

The EU should sanction the US for political interference the same way we've sanctioned Russia.

[–] minnow@lemmy.world 63 points 1 week 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.

[–] Greyghoster@aussie.zone 30 points 1 week ago

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

[–] x00z@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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 6 days ago

There is a term for it: Foreign Election Interference.

[–] PlexSheep@infosec.pub 27 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Musk ist so ne Arschgeige man, Drecksdepp

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