Munich (TDI): The Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, has rebuked the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, over his remarks at the Munich Security Conference. He said, “It is not the right of others to tell Germany and Europe what to do.”
During the speech, the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, not only accused the European leaders of censoring free speech but also appeared to support the German far-right political party Alternative für Deutschland (AFD). He said, “If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there’s nothing America can do for you.”
Addressing the European leaders, he said, “Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the people’s voice matters. There’s no room for firewalls.”
The German far-right Chancellor candidate cherished these remarks, Alice Weidel, who currently leads the Alternative für Deutschland (ADF) party. She said, “Excellent speech! There’s no room for firewalls!”
Excellent speech! “There’s no room for firewalls!”
Die beeindruckende Rede von @JDVance in München – natürlich ohne jeden Applaus von CDU, CSU, SPD & Grünen – jetzt ansehen und anhören. Mit deutschen Untertiteln! #Sicherheitskonferenz pic.twitter.com/UQ95r1JLf2— Alice Weidel (@Alice_Weidel) February 14, 2025
However, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, criticized the United States Vice President and said that the remarks were “not appropriate among the friends and allies.” He also stated that there were “good reasons” for not working with the Alternative für Deutschland party.
While expressing his political views about collaboration with the far-right political party, Alternative für Deutschland, he stated, “As a strong democracy, we are very clear: The extreme right should be out of political decision-making processes.”
As a strong democracy we are very clear: The extreme right should be out of political decision making processes.
We reject any idea working together with the extreme right and its not on others to give us advices to do so.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) February 15, 2025
He also said, “We reject any idea of working together with the extreme right, and it’s not on others to give us advice on how to do so.”
Other political parties in Germany have criticized the Alternative für Deutschland party for having a Nazi past as well as having ultranationalist and anti-immigration policies.
In his speech, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, also said there would never be fascism and aggressive war again. Referring to the Alternative für Deutschland, he noted that the overwhelming majority in Germany opposes anyone who justifies or glorifies criminal national socialism.
While mentioning Germany’s political landscape, the Chancellor said, “…the democratic parties in Germany have a common consensus: this is the firewall against extreme right-wing parties.”
Ich weise ausdrücklich zurück, was US-Vizepräsident Vance bei der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gesagt hat. Aus den Erfahrungen des Nationalsozialismus haben die demokratischen Parteien in Deutschland einen gemeinsamen Konsens: Das ist die Brandmauer gegen extrem rechte Parteien.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) February 14, 2025
However, the Economist suggests that the Alternative für Deutschland (AFD) party has been enjoying the largest boost in support since 2021. Its vote share has doubled the 10% it managed to gain in the last elections. How will the German election be decided?
It is important to mention that Vice President Vance met with German Chancellor candidate Alice Weidel on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday. This signifies that the United States is willing to work with the extreme right German parties in the future.
