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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[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 186 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

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

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

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

[–] ThomasCrappersGhost@feddit.uk 18 points 2 weeks ago

Great take on school playgrounds though…

[–] jonne@infosec.pub 21 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

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 weeks ago (1 children)

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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[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

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

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

[–] Eril@feddit.org 81 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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.

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 51 points 2 weeks ago

It's not like he would have checked.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 86 points 2 weeks ago

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

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

President Musk is an embarrassment.

[–] RamblingPanda@lemmynsfw.com 17 points 2 weeks 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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[–] Metz@lemmy.world 66 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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.

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

[–] FelixCress@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] minnow@lemmy.world 63 points 2 weeks 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.

[–] random_character_a@lemmy.world 32 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] Greyghoster@aussie.zone 30 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

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

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[–] x00z@lemmy.world 28 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago

There is a term for it: Foreign Election Interference.

[–] PlexSheep@infosec.pub 27 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Musk ist so ne Arschgeige man, Drecksdepp

[–] quafeinum@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago
[–] ramsorge@discuss.online 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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 weeks ago (4 children)

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

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[–] madjo@feddit.nl 24 points 2 weeks 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.

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[–] heroheman@lemmy.world 22 points 2 weeks 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.

[–] perestroika@lemm.ee 22 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

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

[–] zbyte64@awful.systems 20 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] gencha@lemm.ee 20 points 2 weeks 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

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 17 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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.

[–] rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] tired_n_bored@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks 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.

[–] FelixCress@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] Mr_Blott@feddit.uk 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"Steinmeier is an anti-democratic tyrant!" Musk wrote in English. "Shame on him."

It's Germany, not North Korea

[–] FelixCress@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Quick Google search:

https://www.politico.eu/article/european-countries-where-insulting-head-of-state-can-land-prison-belgium-denmark-france-germany/

" Disparaging the German president remains a crime, and doing so publicly or through the media can cost from three months to five years in prison."

Now, I don't know if "tyrant" is strong enough word for that, but there is definitely a law he may break if he carries on with his insults.

[–] kokesh@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

Fuck you, musk asshole.

[–] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] index@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago

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

[–] Unpigged@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 weeks ago

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

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