German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a strong rebuke to U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. Scholz took issue with Vance's criticism of Europe's stance on hate speech and the far-right, emphasizing that it is inappropriate for outsiders to dictate Germany and Europe's internal policies.
During the conference, Vance criticized European leaders for what he perceived as censorship of free speech and condemned Germany's \"firewall\" against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Vance's remarks came on the heels of his meeting with the AfD leader, a move Berlin dismissed as unwelcome election interference.
Scholz responded firmly, stating, \"That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that.\" He underscored that there are \"good reasons\" for not collaborating with the AfD, a nationalist party under surveillance by Germany's domestic intelligence agency for suspected extremism.
The AfD, founded in 2013, has gained significant traction by attributing Germany's challenges to immigration. Last year, it became the first far-right party since the Nazi era to secure the most votes in a state election. Despite this, the AfD has been excluded from federal governing coalitions due to a pact among other parties to avoid working with them.
Scholz emphasized Germany's commitment to \"never again\" fascism, racism, or aggressive war, linking this stance to the rejection of parties like the AfD that downplay the atrocities of the Nazi regime. He asserted that Germany would not tolerate external interference in its elections.
Addressing Vance's broader critique of Europe's approach to hate speech, Scholz highlighted that democracies in Germany and Europe are built on the understanding that radical anti-democrats can undermine democratic institutions. He explained that Europe's laws not only protect freedom but also defend it against those who seek to destroy democratic values.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot echoed Scholz's sentiments, stating on X (formerly Twitter) from Munich, \"No one is required to adopt our model but no one can impose theirs on us. Freedom of speech is guaranteed in Europe.\"
The Munich Security Conference was also expected to focus on the Ukraine-Russia crisis, especially following a recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. However, Vance's speech primarily targeted European domestic policies, leaving discussions on Ukraine and security to take a backseat. Scholz concluded the session with a remark that resonated with many delegates: “You mean all these very relevant discussions about Ukraine and security in Europe?” drawing laughter and applause for its deadpan delivery.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
