BERLIN: The German government accused US billionaire Elon Musk on Monday of trying to influence its election due in February with articles supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, even though it suggested they amounted to `nonsense`.

Musk, who is set to serve Donald Trump`s new administration as an outside adviser, endorsed the AfD as Germany`s last hope in a guest opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that prompted the commentary editor to resign in protest.

`It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to innuence the federal election` with X posts and the opinion piece, a German government spokesperson said.Musk is free to express his opinion, the spokesperson said, adding: `After all, freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense.

Musk, the world`s richest person, has defended his right to weigh in on German politics because of his `significant investments`, and has praised the AfD`s approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation.

His intervention has come as Germans prepare to vote in a parliamentary election on Feb 23 after the collapse of the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Musk also called for Scholz`s resignation after a car rammed into a crowd at a Christmas market on Dec 20, killing five people.-Reuters