Macron, Starmer join forces to tackle Musk 'interference' in European affairs

RFI

8 January 2025 at 9:58 am·1-min read

US President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, 19 November, 2024.

Paris and London have called out billionarie Elon Musk for alleged interference in European political debate and spreading of misinformation, with France urging a robust EU response to protect public discourse.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host French President Emmanuel Macron for talks this Thursday following comments made by tech billionaire Elon Musk which have been deemed as "interfering" with European politics.

According to the prime minister's office, Starmer will meet with Macron at his country retreat of Chequers in Buckinghamshire near London.

Musk has provoked fury across Europe with a string of hostile attacks on Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The billionaire has spent days posting incendiary comments on his X platform over historical sex offences against children in northern England.

Musk has called for Labour leader Starmer – elected by a landslide in a general election last July – to be removed from office.

He has also urged the release from jail of Tommy Robinson, one of Britain's best known far-right agitators.

On Monday, Starmer condemned those "spreading lies and misinformation," adding that "a line has been crossed" with some of the online criticism – in a thinly veiled swipe at Musk.

"We have to wake up," he added.

"When you take part in a government or aspire to take part in one, your opinions have a rather special value," said Barrot.*

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