WARSAW, Poland — Tech billionaire Elon Musk has stirred political controversy by hosting a live-streamed chat with Alice Weidel, the co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, using the power of his social media platform, X, to amplify the party’s message just weeks ahead of an important national election.

• Musk repeatedly endorsed the AfD during the livestream, which attracted over 190,000 viewers.
• Concerns are mounting in Europe regarding Musk's influence on foreign politics, echoing his support for Donald Trump during the U.S. elections.
• The AfD, currently under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence for suspected extremism, has witnessed a rise in popularity, with polls indicating it is now the second-most popular party in Germany.
• The European Commission is monitoring the livestream for potential violations of the Digital Services Act, aimed at curbing the spread of harmful content on social media platforms.

Musk has previously utilized his platform to express his opinions on various subjects, including his assertion that only the AfD can save Germany, which he stated in a recent post on X. In a recent article for a German newspaper, he claimed that Germany, currently under the leadership of center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is "teetering on the edge of economic and cultural collapse."

During the livestream, Musk and Weidel criticized Germany's tax policy, voiced their opposition to immigration, and lamented the decision to shut down nuclear power plants, indicating a shared perspective on several contentious issues.

Despite the AfD’s popularity surge, it remains a contentious political entity. The party has been placed under surveillance by intelligence agencies due to concerns about its ties to extremism, a designation the AfD vehemently disputes. The mainstream conservative parties in Germany, including the Christian Democrats, are still expected to secure the highest number of votes in the upcoming election scheduled for February 23, with polls suggesting a support of 31% compared to 20% for the AfD.

The European Commission has expressed concern over Musk’s political activities and the potential misuse of X to propagate hate speech and misinformation. Commission officials have previously highlighted that while Musk can express his views, there are regulatory frameworks in place intended to mitigate the risks of online platforms amplifying illegal content. Investigations into X's compliance with these regulations are ongoing.

The rise of the AfD, particularly amid dissatisfaction with Scholz's three-party coalition and concerns about Germany’s sovereignty in relation to the European Union and NATO, highlights broader shifts in political sentiment across Europe. The political landscape in Germany is rapidly evolving, and figures like Musk, with vast social media influence, are likely to continue to shape public discourse.

For more details, refer to the full articles from AP News and Los Angeles Times.