15.02.2025 18:41
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to U.S. Vice President Vance's statements supporting the far-right AfD party, emphasizing that democracy is closed to interference. Scholz stated, "We will not accept external interference in our democracy, our elections, or the formation of democratic opinions in favor of the AfD."
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reacted strongly to U.S. Vice President Vance's statements supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, saying, "This is absolutely inappropriate, especially among friends and allies. We absolutely reject this. We will decide for ourselves how our democracy continues."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the 61st Munich Security Conference. Chancellor Scholz criticized U.S. Vice President James David Vance's stance towards the far-right in Germany in strong terms.
STRONG REACTION TO SUPPORT FOR AfD
Scholz stated, "We are 20 kilometers away from the Nazi concentration camp Dachau. Dachau is one of the places where crimes against humanity were committed by Germans and in the name of Germany. The U.S. Vice President, who visited Dachau the day before, said a very important sentence after the visit: 'It shows why we need to work so that such a thing never happens again.' I am grateful to Vice President Vance for this important statement.
Because this is the fundamental lesson that Germans have learned, partly thanks to significant U.S. support, from the horrific experiences of the National Socialist terror regime after World War II. The phrase 'never again' is the historical mission that Germany, as a free democracy, wants to uphold and must uphold every day. There must never be fascism again, never racism again, never an aggressive war again," he stated.
"WE ABSOLUTELY REJECT THIS"
Scholz said, "That is why the overwhelming majority in our country strongly opposes those who glorify or legitimize the guilty National Socialism. The AfD, which is the far-right Alternative for Germany party, is a party that trivializes National Socialism and its horrific crimes, such as those committed in Dachau, as mere bird droppings in German history. Therefore, a commitment that it will never happen again cannot be reconciled with support for the AfD. For this reason, we will not accept any external interference in our democracy, our elections, or the formation of democratic opinions in favor of this party (AfD). This is absolutely inappropriate, especially among friends and allies. We absolutely reject this. We will decide for ourselves how our democracy continues," he stated.
WHAT HAPPENED?
U.S. Vice President James David Vance, in his speech at the 61st Munich Conference yesterday, accused European leaders he criticized harshly of undermining freedom of expression. Vance stated that he supports the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "suitable political partner," saying, "Democracy is based on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters. There is no place for security walls. No voter on this continent went to the polls to open the doors for millions of unvetted migrants."
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