A self -censorship pact. When Musk discovered while reading The European Conservative that all the German parties, excluding AFD, had granted themselves under pressure from a pro-migrant association “Do not campaign at the expense of people from immigration living with us” And “Not to hold migrants responsible for negative social developments such as unemployment or threats to internal security”the blood of the American billionaire only made a turn.
In the last legislative elections last February, he had already displayed clear support for Alice Weidel’s party. To the point that Olaf Scholz, still Chancellor, had mentioned “A serious foreign interference”. Even today, while the Germans are invited to the polls this Sunday in North Westphalia Rhineland, the most populous Land in Germany, the American billionaire reoffends and invites himself into the countryside. “Either Germany votes for AFD or the end of Germany”he wrote on his social network X, in a final tone.
For AFD, it’s blessed bread. A salutary boost. A few steps from Cologne Cathedral where Municipals are held this Sunday, Wolfgang Wiehle, an AFD deputy, agreed: “Musk is perfectly right. Without his tweet, that would probably not have been known. In our camp, its position has aroused a lot of enthusiasm. His approach is constructive. She will help us make scores beyond our expectations. »»
“He is doing us service because the AFD is highlighted”
In 2020, Alice Weidel’s party had only obtained 5 % of the vote in Cologne. According to recent polls, AFD could triple its results and thus demonstrate that its establishment is no longer only done in the east of the country, but also wins the west of Germany. Better still, it could win a large part of the Ruhr basin, a former SPD bastion, the German left center party on Sunday, on Sunday.
In the streets of Cologne, the municipal elections occupy the spirits. And AFD supporters are particularly optimistic about their chances of gaining ground and continuing their rise. As every week, several party members are gathered in Little Link, a bistro of red bricks located in the Belgian district, northwest of Cologne. Elon Musk’s return to German political life is unanimous. Better still, he delights them. “He knows what he is talking aboutrejoices Hans-Uwe, who has voted AFD since 2016. The fact that he interferes in this campaign disturbs the traditional parties and he supports us, because the AFD is highlighted. »» In front of him, Jürgen K., a beer in hand, seems particularly nervous. AFD voter since 2019, he suddenly interrupts conversation and fists on the table: “It is impossible that it is a coincidence. »» He alludes to the deaths of seven AFD candidates in recent weeks: “These are disguised assassinations. »» If the police established that these were natural deaths, AFD members are skeptical.
Capital stake
Convinced of being persecuted by the power and put under surveillance of the intelligence services, the media reinforcement of Elon Musk is for them a bargain. “He has the gift of perfectly summarizing the overall situation in a handful of words”says Sven Tritschler, AFD deputy in Rhineland-Palatinate, from its office located opposite the main station in Cologne. “His lucidity in relation to the catastrophic situation of our country makes it possible to become aware of the capital issue of this electoral deadline. »» It is even rumored that the boss of Tesla could go to the Rhineland of North Westphalia this Sunday, just to mark the occasion in the event of the triumphant election of the party he supports.
