(CNN) 鈥� American tech billionaire Elon Musk made a surprise address at the campaign launch for Germany鈥檚 Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as thousands of people gathered across the country to protest the rise of the far-right party.
Musk, who spoke to the crowd in a live video, was met with huge cheers by the roughly 4,500 AfD supporters gathered inside a hall in the eastern German city of Halle on Saturday.
While speaking with party leader Alice Weidel, AfD鈥檚 candidate for chancellor, Musk his belief that AfD is Germany鈥檚 鈥渂est hope鈥� in the upcoming general election on February 23.
Germany, Europe鈥檚 largest economy, is heading to snap elections in February after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a and his governing coalition collapsed after months of instability.
AfD has seen an upswell in support, recently becoming the to win a state election in Germany since the Nazi era and performing well in opinion polls for the upcoming election. At the same time, the party has been criticized for its staunch anti-immigrant stance. All of Germany鈥檚 mainstream political parties have said they will not work with the AfD.
Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, stressed the importance 鈥渢hat people take pride in Germany and being German,鈥� a sentiment that was met with rapturous cheers at the AfD rally.
The billionaire also addressed the issue of immigration 鈥� a key issue in the election 鈥� urging Wiedel and her supporters not to lose their national pride in 鈥渟ome kind of multiculturalism that dilutes everything.鈥�
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Germans protested in Berlin and other cities on Saturday against the far-right party.
In the western German city of Cologne, police estimated a crowd of 40,000 people were demonstrating, according to the Associated Press. About 35,000 protestors gathered at Berlin鈥檚 iconic Brandenburg Gate, according to police estimates, where they sang anti-fascist songs, carried banners denouncing AfD, and displayed illuminated letters spelling 鈥渉ope and resistance,鈥� AP reported.
鈥淭hose who fuel racism and attack climate protection are not just campaigning, they are endangering lives,鈥� climate activist Luisa Neubauer told the crowd reported AP.
Musk has become in the European political landscape. In recent weeks, he has kindled an alliance with AfD party leader Wiedel. Earlier in January, the two discussed Germany鈥檚 election, economic, and political issues.
But the involvement of Musk 鈥� the world鈥檚 richest man and the owner of the social media platform X 鈥� has also been among government leaders in Europe.
In the United Kingdom, the prime minister Musk of spreading 鈥渓ies鈥� after the billionaire provoked a social media backlash against the British government. Musk has also pushed for the release of jailed far-right political activist Tommy Robinson and a social media uproar that fueled anti-immigration riots.
The German government has even Musk of trying to influence its election over his endorsement of the AfD.
Despite the scrutiny, Musk has continued to voice his support for the populist political movements that have galvanized numerous European elections. He has also between the political climate in Germany and the United States while emphasizing the global impact the approaching election could have.
鈥淚 think it could decide the entire fate of Europe, maybe the fate of the world.鈥� he told AfD supporters on Saturday, 鈥渢hat is the significance of this election.鈥�
The-CNN-Wire
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