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The Guardian: Angela Merkel expresses 'huge concern' at Elon Musk's US government role
The Guardian - Angela Merkel expresses ‘huge concern’ at Elon Musk’s US government role
Former German chancellor says politics should govern the social balance between powerful and ordinary citizens
Deborah Cole in Berlin
Fri 22 Nov 2024 12.31 EST
Angela Merkel, who in her new memoir raises fears for the western democratic order with Donald Trump as US president, has also expressed deep concerns about the outsized role to be played in Trump’s administration by Elon Musk.
The former German chancellor, who during Trump’s first term was given by some observers the designation of “leader of the free world” usually reserved for US presidents, said 16 years in power had taught her that business and political interests must be kept in fine balance.
Asked by Der Spiegel magazine in an interview whether the challenge posed by Trump had grown since he was first elected in 2016, Merkel responded: “There is now a visible alliance between him with the big companies from Silicon Valley which have enormous power through capital.”
Musk, who is advising Trump on his second term, has been tasked by the president-elect with leading a newly created department of government efficiency along with Vivek Ramaswamy. Merkel said the SpaceX and Tesla chief’s financial entanglements made such an appointment highly problematic.
“If a person like him is the owner of 60% of all satellites orbiting in space, then that must be a huge concern for us along with the political issues,” she said. “Politics must determine the social balance between the powerful and ordinary citizens.”
She noted that in the 2007-08 financial crisis during her first term as German chancellor, “the political sphere was the final authority that could straighten things out” with measures such as bailouts coupled with new regulations.
/snip
Former German chancellor says politics should govern the social balance between powerful and ordinary citizens
Deborah Cole in Berlin
Fri 22 Nov 2024 12.31 EST
Angela Merkel, who in her new memoir raises fears for the western democratic order with Donald Trump as US president, has also expressed deep concerns about the outsized role to be played in Trump’s administration by Elon Musk.
The former German chancellor, who during Trump’s first term was given by some observers the designation of “leader of the free world” usually reserved for US presidents, said 16 years in power had taught her that business and political interests must be kept in fine balance.
Asked by Der Spiegel magazine in an interview whether the challenge posed by Trump had grown since he was first elected in 2016, Merkel responded: “There is now a visible alliance between him with the big companies from Silicon Valley which have enormous power through capital.”
Musk, who is advising Trump on his second term, has been tasked by the president-elect with leading a newly created department of government efficiency along with Vivek Ramaswamy. Merkel said the SpaceX and Tesla chief’s financial entanglements made such an appointment highly problematic.
“If a person like him is the owner of 60% of all satellites orbiting in space, then that must be a huge concern for us along with the political issues,” she said. “Politics must determine the social balance between the powerful and ordinary citizens.”
She noted that in the 2007-08 financial crisis during her first term as German chancellor, “the political sphere was the final authority that could straighten things out” with measures such as bailouts coupled with new regulations.
/snip
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