BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Elon Musk`s `erratic` comments and his open support for the extreme-right AfD party in an interview published on Saturday.

The world`s wealthiest man who owns social media platform X has in a string of posts attacked several European leaders and ruffled feathers on the continent.

Asked about interference by Musk who last month called Scholz an `incompetent fool` before calling the German president an `anti-democratic tyrant` the chancellor told Stern magazine it was important `to keep calm` ahead of Germany`s snap elections on February 23.

`In Germany, everything is proceeding according to the wishes of our citizens and not the erratic comments of an American billionaire,` he told the magazine in an interview.

Scholz said public support from the ever-morepowerful Musk for the farright AfD was `much more problematic than these insults`.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is polling in second place behind the conservatives, `advocates closer links with Putin`s Russia and wants to weaken transAtlantic ties`, Scholz said.

The extreme-right party acknowledged this week it was in regular contact with the entourage of South African-born Musk, who is due on January 9 to host a conversation on X with AfD leader Alice Weidel.

Asked if he personally wished to debate with the 53-year-old owner of Tesla and SpaceX, Scholz said: `I don`t think it necessary to seek Mr Musk`s favours.-AFP