A fervent defender of freedom of expression around the world, Elon Musk has shown himself more than once as a “symbol” in this struggle. With the takeover of Twitter (now once stifled by censorship from the old leadership. Today, the Patriots for Europe group chaired by Jordan Bardella in the European Parliament wishes to pay tribute to him by nominating him for the Sakharov Prize.
A nomination for Elon Musk
The Sakharov Prize, awarded each year by the European Parliament, rewards the defense of human rights and freedom of thought. It is the European Union’s most prestigious distinction in terms of human rights. On September 26, during a joint session between the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Human Rights Subcommittee and the Development Committee, the candidates for the 2024 edition were announced, including prominent figures from various political and geographical horizons.
Among the candidates, we find:
- Maria Corina Machado, opposition leader in Venezuela, supported by right-wing parties.
- Edmundo González Urrutia, candidate in the Venezuelan presidential election, also supported by the right.
- Yael Admi, representative of the Israeli organization Women Wage Peace, which enjoys the support of liberals and social democrats.
- Reem Hajajreh, spokesperson for the Palestinian NGO Women of the Sun, also supported by liberals and social democrats.
And a certain candidacy from Elon Musk. The founder of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of the social network X (formerly Twitter), was nominated by the political group Patriots for Europe, led by Jordan Bardella of the National Rally. The group justifies the nomination of the billionaire by his commitment to freedom of expression, transparency and the fight against censorship, values which they consider aligned with those of the Sakharov Prize.
The main argument of the Patriots for Europe group is based on Musk’s actions, notably his purchase of the social network from the right. Jordan Bardella and his group believe that Musk was able to challenge moderation perceived as too strict, which provided a less constrained and more open space for debate on sensitive political subjects.
Sakharov Prize winners of recent years
The Sakharov Prize has a long history, recognizing figures who fight for human rights around the world. Recent winners include:
- 2023: the Ukrainian people, represented by their president Volodymyr Zelensky, for their resistance against the Russian invasion.
- 2022: the democratic movement in Burma, in recognition of their fight against the military junta.
- 2021: Alexeï Navalny, for his courageous opposition to the regime of Vladimir Putin and his defense of the rights of Russian citizens.
- 2020: the democratic opposition in Belarus, embodied by Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa, for their fight against the dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenko.
The announcement of the 2024 winner of the Sakharov Prize will take place in the coming weeks, during a plenary session of the European Parliament.
