Luxembourg MP accuses Ilon Musk of threatening democracy

Ilon Musk's remarks on platform X (formerly Twitter) have once again caused a wave of criticism. After his statement that the British "no longer want" their government, the billionaire called for new elections. This came against the backdrop of his support for right-wing forces in Germany, fuelling fears among European politicians. In Luxembourg, opinions are divided on the issue.

MP Franz Fayot (LSAP) issued a tough statement accusing Musk of promoting "fascist methods" and protecting his own commercial interests. "The citizens of any state do not want anyone to interfere in their democracy," Fayot said. His parliamentary colleague Corinne Cahen (DP) also expressed concern: "It is dangerous when the richest man in the world uses his social network to spread radical views." She admitted she was publishing fewer posts on X for fear of a rise in extremist sentiment.

MP Laurent Mosar (CSV) noted that the platform has changed since Musk bought it in 2022: "These interventions show that the network has gone down the wrong path". In contrast, Fred Koep (ADR) sees Musk as a defender of free speech, comparing him to other influential billionaires such as Bill Gates and George Soros: "Musk has the right to express his opinion, just like them." In his opinion, politicians and journalists themselves often go out of bounds when commenting on events in other countries, such as Georgia and Romania.

However, Corinne Cahen insists that Musk is not just expressing an opinion, "He's trying to gain control of our democracies." These statements raise questions about where the line is drawn between personal opinion and political manipulation. The scale of the X platform's influence, with millions of users, makes every word of its owner potentially resonant and politically significant.

The debates around Elon Musk and his statements demonstrate a split in approaches to understanding freedom of speech and the sovereignty of democracies. For some, he is a defender of the right to opinion; for others, he is a threat to stability and the rise of extremist sentiments. Against the backdrop of heightened global tensions, the question of the role of digital giants in politics is becoming increasingly relevant. Luxembourg politicians warn: freedom of speech should not be turned into a tool to undermine democratic values.