German Leader Scholz Defends Europe’s Fight Against Hate Speech, Criticizes Vance
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz strongly criticized U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Saturday for attacking Europe’s approach to hate speech and the far-right. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Scholz said it was wrong for others to tell Germany and Europe how to handle these issues. According to Reuters, Scholz defended Europe’s strict rules against hate speech, saying they protect democracy, not limit freedom.
Vance had accused European leaders of censoring free speech and criticized Germany’s mainstream parties for refusing to work with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Scholz responded by saying, “That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that.” He added that there are “good reasons” to keep the AfD at arm’s length.
The AfD, an anti-immigration party, is currently polling at around 20% ahead of Germany’s national election. However, other major German parties avoid working with the AfD due to Germany’s history with the Nazi regime. Scholz emphasized, “Never again fascism, never again racism, never again aggressive war.” He explained that Germany’s strict rules against hate speech and far-right extremism are rooted in the country’s painful past.
Vance had also met with the AfD leader and endorsed the party as a political partner, which Berlin dismissed as unwanted interference in Germany’s elections. Scholz defended Europe’s approach, saying, “Today’s democracies in Germany and Europe are founded on the historic awareness that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also supported Scholz’s stance, saying on X, “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, which usually focuses on global security issues, was overshadowed by Vance’s criticism of Europe. Instead of discussing the Ukraine-Russia war, Vance focused on what he called Europe’s “retreat from fundamental values,” including free speech and immigration. His speech was met with silence and little applause from the audience.
When asked if there was anything worth reflecting on in Vance’s speech, Scholz humorously replied, “You mean all these very relevant discussions about Ukraine and security in Europe?” His response drew laughter and applause from the crowd.
This summary is based on information from Reuters.