Topline
One day after Vice President JD Vance delivered a scathing speech to European leaders in Munich, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took the same stage to offer an apparent rebuke to Vance’s remarks, defending Germany’s democracy and its regulations on hate speech.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered an apparent rebuke to Vice President JD Vance on Saturday. ... [+]
Key Facts
Scholz spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, slamming “outsiders intervening in our democracy, in our elections, in the democratic formation of opinion in favour of this party,” especially from “friends and allies.”
Scholz said Germany’s “commitment to ‘never again’”—a promise to not return to fascism and the Holocaust—“cannot be reconciled with support” for Alternative for Germany (AfD), the country’s far-right party that is rising in support and has been propped up by billionaire Elon Musk.
In an apparent response to Vance’s claim that European leaders suppress free speech, Scholz said, “Free speech in Europe means that you are not attacking others in ways that are against legislation and laws we have in our country”—referring to German hate speech laws.
Scholz previously condemned Vance in a post on X, stating he “expressly rejects” his speech and stated Germany’s democratic parties have a “common consensus” of forming a “firewall against extreme right-wing parties.”
German defense minister Boris Pistorius also criticized Vance in a speech Friday, calling his remarks “unacceptable,” accusing Vance of comparing Europe to authoritarian regimes.
Vance’s remarks come more than a week before Germany’s upcoming election on Feb. 23, and although the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union coalition leads polls, the AfD has risen to a solid second place and is poised for its most successful election result.
What Did Jd Vance Say In Munich?
Vance surprised European leaders at the Munich Security Conference on Friday by condemning European democracy and accusing leaders of suppressing free speech and refusing to work with far-right parties, which have been on the rise in some European countries. Vance said free speech is “in retreat” in Europe and warned of the “threat from within,” stating “democracy will not survive if their people’s concerns are deemed invalid, or even worse, not worth being considered.” He claimed “old entrenched interests” were “hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation” to justify censorship. Vance cited an example of a man being arrested in the United Kingdom for praying near an abortion clinic, though the man—Adam Smith-Connor, a British physiotherapist—had breached a “buffer zone,” a ban on political activity either in favor of or opposed to abortion within 150 meters of abortion clinics, a mandate that was made to prevent women from being harassed. While in Munich, Vance reportedly met with Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD who is the party’s candidate for chancellor in the upcoming German election.
How Has Elon Musk Supported Europe’s Far Right?
Musk has been a vocal supporter of Germany’s AfD, sparking a war of words with Scholz. Musk has repeatedly promoted AfD on his X account and appeared at a virtual rally for the party in January in which he said the AfD would “make Germany great again” and save the “future of civilization.” Scholz has accused Musk of “intervening in favor of right-wing politicians all over Europe,” which he said is “not good for the democratic development in all [of]
the European Union,” and called Musk’s support for the far right “really disgusting.” Scholz also condemned Musk’s claim that Germany has “too much of a focus on past guilt,” which was interpreted as a reference to the Holocaust. On X, Musk has referred to Scholz by a derogatory nickname, “Oaf Schitz,” and called him an “incompetent fool.”Key Background
The AfD is highly controversial and has sparked outrage for inflammatory comments made by its leaders, some of whom have faced accusations of echoing Nazi rhetoric. European Parliament member Maximilian Krah said last year not all Nazi leaders are “automatically criminals,” while party leader Björn Höcke has faced multiple fines for using Nazi slogans. The party champions deporting migrants, abandoning the Euro and halting climate action.
Further Reading
A far-right party is heading for its strongest result yet in Germany’s election (Associated Press)
