Scholz Reprimands Vance Over Comments on AfD and German Elections

Chancellor Scholz condemned US Vice President JD Vance’s support of the far-right AfD party, asserting that Germany will not tolerate external interference in its democracy. Vance’s speech criticized European governments for their stance against far-right movements and raised concerns about the erosion of democratic values in Europe. His actions and remarks before Germany’s elections have drawn considerable backlash from German leadership.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz strongly rebuffed US Vice President JD Vance’s comments supporting the far-right AfD party at the Munich Security Conference. Scholz emphasized that Germany will not accept external interference in its democratic processes. He asserted, “We will not accept outsiders interfering in our democracy, our elections, and democratic opinion formation process in favor of this party.” Scholz stressed that Germany will determine its democratic fate.

In his controversial address, Vance criticized European governments for what he labeled anti-democratic practices, claiming they were undermining shared democratic values. He claimed that the most significant threat to Europe was internal decline rather than external forces like Russia or China. Vance accused the EU Commission of impeding social media freedom and berated European courts for seemingly nullifying election results.

Vance’s actions, including a meeting with AfD leader Alice Weidel, raised diplomatic concerns mere days before Germany’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 23. This meeting is seen as a breach of customary diplomatic practices. Vance condemned the German government’s refusal to engage with the AfD, which he described as a “firewall” approach to dealing with the party.

The Munich Security Conference organizers chose not to invite Weidel due to the AfD’s anti-democratic stance, reflecting the broader rejection of the party by mainstream German politics. This situation underscores the ongoing tensions between European nations and external influences on their political landscape.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz firmly rebuffs US Vice President JD Vance’s support for the AfD party, reaffirming Germany’s commitment to independent democratic processes. Vance’s comments raised concerns over external interference, especially ahead of critical elections. His controversial remarks and subsequent meeting with AfD leadership have sparked significant criticism, highlighting the complexities of European political dynamics.

Original Source: www.aa.com.tr