Summary
Elon Musk criticized German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on X, calling him an “anti-democratic tyrant” following Steinmeier’s speech opposing outside interference amid Germany’s political crisis.
Musk, who previously insulted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, plans a public discussion with far-right AfD leader Alice Weidel, prompting accusations of endorsing far-right politics.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck called Musk’s influence a threat to European democracy and urged action to limit his power.
Musk has also sparked controversy in the UK, aligning with right-wing figures like Nigel Farage and targeting PM Keir Starmer.
The “checking laws” thing is actually not mentioned in the constitution but the argument is that the president is a constitutional organ, and it cannot be expected from a constitutional organ to sign an unconstitutional law when another constitutional organ puts it on their desk. Just as you can’t expect a notary to notarise an unconscionable contract.
Parliament is free to sue when that happens, and the constitutional court will decide, not the president, if the court says the law is fine the president has to sign.
In Germany everyone can bring any law affecting them before the constitutional court to have it checked, the president’s implicit right is similar but they can do it even if not personally affected, and before it comes into force.