Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s far-right prime minister, said Thursday that Elon Musk’s political interference only caused outrage because he was not a leftist — and foreigners had been interfering in Italian politics for years.
Meloni, head of the post-Fascist Brothers of Italy party, said Musk was exercising his right to free speech. Instead, he accused political interference from powerful leftists, including billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros.
Musk – a billionaire ally of US President-elect Donald Trump who is lined up for a role in the incoming administration – has sparked outrage across Europe with a series of attacks on the continent’s leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Kiir. Is done. Starmer.
Meloni rejected the suggestion that Musk’s comments on his former social network were “dangerous interference”.
“The problem is when rich people use their resources to finance parties, associations and political exponents around the world to influence the political choices of nation states,” Meloni told reporters at an annual press conference. “
“Musk is not doing that,” he insisted.
She said, “Elon Musk financed an election campaign by his own candidate in his country in a system that, I would say, is quite normal.”
“But I am not aware of Elon Musk funding parties, associations or political exponents around the world.
“This is what George Soros does, for example,” Meloni alleged.
“And yes, I consider it a dangerous interference in the affairs of nations and their sovereignty,” she said.
Condemned by conservatives and often the target of anti-Semitic conspiracies, Soros used the money he earned as a financier in the 1970s and 80s to create the Open Society Foundations (OSF), which works around the world for good and on a wide range of issues. Supports NGOs. -From governance and democracy-building programs to liberal public policy initiatives.
He has been a major donor during US elections, but does not have any social media networks or hold any position in the government.
‘Not leftist’
“Is the problem that Elon Musk is influential and rich or that he is not leftist?” asked Meloni, who described Musk as a “genius.”
He criticized “those who until yesterday were described as exponents of big finance – who often bet against nation states, who finance exponents of political associations – precisely as philanthropists”.
Meloni said he has not taken any money from Musk, “unlike those who have taken from Soros”.
He has denied media reports that his government is close to signing a huge and controversial cyber security deal with Musk’s company SpaceX.
Meloni said that she herself avoids commenting on the domestic politics of other countries but has herself been the victim of repeated attacks.
He compared the “leftist” outrage over Musk’s vocal support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of elections there with “leftist” silence over “interference” by top German politicians in Italy’s 2022 election. General elections.
Twice during the press conference, Meloni mistakenly called Musk Donald Trump.
Experts suggest that Musk’s political initiatives are deeply linked to his economic interests.
He is an enthusiastic supporter of Meloni, Italy’s far-right leader since 1945.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
