Madrid – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez delivered a stern warning against the political interference of right-wing billionaire Elon Musk during a commemorative event on Wednesday marking the 50th anniversary of the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The event, held at Madrid’s Reina Sofía Museum, provided Sánchez with an opportunity to address Musk’s growing influence in European political discourse.
Without explicitly naming Musk, Sánchez cautioned that the billionaire’s leadership of an “international reactionary” movement poses a threat to democracy. He used the occasion to remind attendees that forgetting the mistakes of the past could lead to history repeating itself, an observation directed at both Franco’s fascist regime and Musk’s controversial political statements.
The remarks came just days after Musk made headlines by commenting on an article discussing the disproportionate conviction rates of foreign nationals for sexual assault in Catalonia. In response, Musk wrote a simple “Wow,” sparking outrage. Prime Minister Sánchez swiftly rebutted Musk’s comment, asserting that foreign nationals are no more criminal than Spanish citizens.
“It’s essential that we resist the temptation to generalise and categorise entire groups based on nationality,” Sánchez remarked, referencing Musk’s recent commentary, which many saw as an attempt to stoke divisiveness.
The event, intended to commemorate Spain’s transition from Franco’s rule, also served as a platform for Sánchez to address broader concerns about Musk’s involvement in European politics. Over the past months, Musk has stirred controversy by commenting on political issues across Europe, including in Germany, where he voiced support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD, which has been linked to extremist views, has been labelled a “suspected extremist” group by the German domestic intelligence agency.
Sánchez, referencing Musk’s support for AfD, said, “He openly attacks our institutions, stirs up hatred, and supports the heirs of Nazism in Germany’s upcoming elections.” The Spanish leader’s condemnation follows similar concerns raised by other European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who have spoken out against Musk’s influence and his promotion of political movements with questionable ideologies.
Sánchez continued, expressing his alarm at the potential regression of democratic values in Europe: “You don’t have to be of any particular ideology – left, right, or centre – to feel a deep sadness and fear when recalling the dark years of Franco’s regime. We must ensure that such regression is never repeated.” His remarks resonated deeply in Spain, where the legacy of Franco’s dictatorship remains a sensitive and contentious issue.
Musk’s involvement in European politics has extended beyond Spain. In the UK, Musk has drawn attention for attacking Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and other political figures, accusing them of not prosecuting child sexual exploitation cases involving Pakistani nationals aggressively enough. His comments have been met with backlash from British leaders, who have accused him of spreading misinformation and attempting to influence national political issues from abroad.
In response to Musk’s growing political clout, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged the European Commission to take action to protect member states from foreign political interference. “The European Commission must decide whether it will enforce the laws designed to protect our public space, or whether it will allow external actors to exert their influence unchecked,” Barrot said in an interview with France Inter radio.
In Brussels, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are also calling for an investigation into Musk’s activities on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Reports from tech news sites, including Platformer, suggest that the platform’s algorithm may have been reconfigured to amplify Musk’s political posts, raising concerns about the concentration of opinion-making power in the hands of a few.
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MEP Damian Boeselager, a candidate for the Bundestag in Germany’s upcoming election, expressed his concern about the implications of Musk’s influence, telling The Guardian: “When one voice becomes far more powerful than all the others, it begins to resemble autocratic tendencies rather than liberal ones.”
The pressure on Musk from European leaders and lawmakers is mounting as he prepares to host a livestream discussion with Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, on his platform X this Thursday. The event is expected to further ignite debates about the role of tech giants in shaping political landscapes and the risks of allowing individuals like Musk to interfere in the domestic politics of sovereign nations.
As Europe grapples with the impact of Musk’s interventions, Sánchez’s remarks serve as a reminder of the dangers posed by external forces seeking to influence democratic processes. The ongoing debate highlights the importance of safeguarding democracy and the lessons learned from the past, particularly in countries like Spain, which continues to confront the legacy of fascism and authoritarian rule.
