Madrid (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez slammed Elon Musk for meddling in European politics, blaming him for undermining democracy.
Pedro Sanchez, without mentioning Elon Musk, said,
“The international far-right that we have been fighting in Spain for years, led in this case by the wealthiest man on the planet, openly strikes our institutions, provokes hatred and openly advocates the heirs of Nazism in Germany,”
Reuters reported.
During an event in Madrid to observe the 50th anniversary of the death of dictator Francisco Franco, Sanchez stated that democracy is weak and confronts an existential threat. “If history teaches us anything, it is that freedom is never permanently conquered,” he expressed.
How has Musk’s activities caused controversy?
Recently, Elon Musk sparked controversy after commenting on a report about rape convictions in Catalonia, Spain. According to the report, a significant majority of the convicted were foreign nationals. On January 5, 2025, Elon Musk posted an article from La Razón on his platform X, which said that 91% of people convicted of rape in Catalonia were foreigners. Musk responded with “Wow,” and an immigration and crime debate in Spain ensued.
According to the Catalonia Department of Justice, by January 1, 2025, out of 29 inmates for rape offences, 26 were foreign nationals. That statistic pointed out the problems with the demographic makeup of crime in the region, especially associated with immigration.
Moreover, the Tesla chief has openly complimented the Alternative for Germany party, terming it “the last spark of hope” for Germany. He has claimed that only the AfD can save the country, which has elicited severe criticism from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other officials who accuse him of trying to interfere in their elections. European leaders have feared that the voting powers of Musk were a threat to democratic values because he has been supporting far-right movements. They claimed that it would increase hate and terrorism because of the work he is engaged in.
