German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sharply criticized U.S. Vice President JD Vance's attack on Europe's approach to hate speech and the far right, stating that it was inappropriate for other nations to dictate Germany and Europe's policies. Vance had accused European leaders of censoring free speech and criticized German mainstream parties' reluctance to collaborate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Scholz defended Europe's stance, emphasizing the historical lessons learned from Nazi Germany and the importance of safeguarding democratic values against radical anti-democratic forces.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a strong rebuke on Saturday to U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s attack on Europe ’s stance toward hate speech and the far right, saying it was not right for others to tell Germany and Europe what to do.
“That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that,” Scholz told the conference on Saturday, adding there were “good reasons” not to work with the AfD. “Never again fascism, never again racism, never again aggressive war. That is why an overwhelming majority in our country opposes anyone who glorifies or justifies criminal National Socialism,” Scholz said, referring to the ideology of Adolf Hitler’s 1933-45 Nazi regime.
Referring more broadly to Vance’s criticism of Europe’s curtailing of hate speech, which he has likened to censorship, Scholz said: “Today’s democracies in Germany and Europe are founded on the historic awareness and realisation that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats.
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