It's The Turn Of The Spanish PM To Attack Elon Musk, Accusing Trump's Right Hand To Damage Democracy

JAKARTA - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez 'attacked' billionaire Elon Musk for meddling in European politics by accusing Donald Trump's right-hand man of damaging democracy.

The international right-wing group we have been fighting in Spain for years, led by the richest man on the planet, publicly attacks our institution, incites hatred and publicly supports the heir to Nazisme in Germany, Sanchez said of Musk without directly mentioning his name.

Sanchez spoke in Madrid at the event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

Musk, who will serve under US President-elect Donald Trump as an external adviser tasked with streamlining the government, was involved in Spanish affairs on Sunday by commenting on an article that said the rape penalty in Spain's northeastern Catalonia was inappropriate.

Sanchez said democracy is fragile and faces real threats.

"If history teaches us something, then freedom is never permanently conquered," he said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot asked the European Commission to use existing laws in a more stringent manner.

This statement refers to Elon Musk, who has recently been in the spotlight of officials from a number of European countries because he is considered to be too involved in the affairs of other countries.

"The European Commission must strictly implement existing laws to protect our special space or not, and in this case the European Commission should consider giving capacity to do so again to EU member states, to France," Barrot said. , January 8th.

Previously, Spanish government spokesman Pilar Alegria emphasized that social media platforms must be neutral and not interfere with the political affairs of other countries.

The Alegria pillar answers questions about a major argument between billionaire Elon Musk, owner of social messaging platform X, and European leaders such as British Keir Starmer and French Emmanuel Macron.

"We believe that this platform should always act with absolute and most importantly neutrality, without interference," he said at a press conference reported by Reuters, Tuesday, January 7.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said he was worried that billionaire Elon Musk would interfere with the political issues of countries outside the United States.

Musk, a close person to US President-elect Donald Trump, last month supported Germany's anti-immigration party ahead of parliamentary elections in February 2025. Musk has also repeatedly commented on British politics while demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer resign.

"I am worried that someone who has great access to social media and large economic resources will involve himself directly in the domestic affairs of other countries," Stoere told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, reported by Reuters, Monday, January 6.

"This is not what should happen between a democratic country and its allies," he added.

If Musk wants to engage himself in Norwegian politics, politicians in the country, continued Stoere, must collectively distance themselves from these efforts.