Early bird: Chancellor Scholz warned of Musk's ambitions to fund AfD. Beer exports from the Czech Republic to Russia have increased
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized the support of the far-right in Germany by American billionaire Elon Musk. Czech beer is exported to Russia in an increasingly large amounts, the situation abroad has provoked criticism. The far-right Freedom Party will form a government in Austria. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, stating that he intends to step down from the highest office.
Scholz criticized Musk for his interference in German elections
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he remains "cool" in the face of harsh personal comments from Elon Musk, but finds it disturbing that the American billionaire is trying to get involved in parliamentary elections by supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Scholz responded after Musk, a close ally of elected U.S. President Donald Trump, called the Chancellor a "fool" after his coalition government collapsed in November, and later supported AfD in an opinion article he wrote for one of the main German newspapers.
Scholz, a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), stated in a comment published on Saturday by the German magazine Stern, that there is nothing new in the criticism of "wealthy media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic politics and do not hold back with their opinions," the AfD agency reported.
Denmark has stopped exporting beer to Russia, Germans and Czechs are still profiting from it
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a number of goods from Europe to Russia, a number of European products. While Danish breweries have stopped exporting beer to Russia, those in Germany and the Czech Republic continue to do so. In fact, Czech beer exports to Russia have even increased year on year.
"Czech breweries have no ethical doubts that profit is the first priority, regardless of who they make money for,"
Commented Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, according to ČTK.
The far right will try to form a government in Austria, for the first time since World War II
The leader of the Austrian Freedom Party on Monday received a mandate to attempt to assemble a new government, which in case of success would be the first far-right government since the Second World War. The anti-immigration and eurosceptic Freedom Party, which is against sanctions against Russia and led by Herbert Kickl, won the parliamentary elections in Austria in September. It got 28.8% of the votes and defeated the conservative Austrian People's Party of outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer at the second place.
In October, however, President Alexander Van der Bellen gave Nehammer the first chance to form a new government after Nehammer's party declared that it would not go into government with the Freedom under Kickl's leadership, and others refused to cooperate with the Freedom at all. These efforts to form a government alliance without the far right collapsed in the first days of the new year and Nehammer announced on Saturday that he would resign, reported AP agency.
Canadian Prime Minister Resigns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, stating that he intends to step down from the highest office and from the leadership of Canada's ruling Liberal Party.
"I intend to step down from the position of party leader, from the Prime Minister's office, after the party elects a new leader. I care deeply about this country and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians. And the fact is, despite our best efforts at work, parliament has been paralyzed for several months, which was the longest sitting minority parliament in Canadian history,"
The fifty-three-year-old leader told reporters at a Monday press conference in Ottawa according to CNN. The Canadian parliament will be adjourned until March 24th, while a new leader of the Liberal party is chosen, he also stated.
Sources: CNN, AP, ČTK
