The remarks, delivered during the Munich Security Conference, come amid growing tensions between Berlin and Washington over their respective political directions.
ChatGPT said:Munich, 15 February 2025 – German opposition leader and CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has sharply criticised what he sees as foreign interference in Germany’s upcoming Bundestag elections, following a meeting between US Vice President J.D. Vance and Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate Alice Weidel. The remarks, delivered during the Munich Security Conference, come amid growing tensions between Berlin and Washington over their respective political directions.
Merz’s comments follow a controversial speech by Vance, in which the US vice president attacked European policies and dismissed Germany’s long-standing consensus against working with the far-right. The meeting between Vance and Weidel, held at the US delegation’s hotel in Munich, reinforced concerns in Berlin that elements of the Trump administration are willing to engage with political forces long considered beyond the democratic mainstream in Germany.
Merz Demands Respect for German Democracy
Speaking at a panel discussion, Merz reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to democratic principles and condemned external attempts to influence its domestic politics.
“We respect the presidential and congressional elections in the United States and expect the same in return this year,” he stated.
While Merz did not directly name Vance, his comments were clearly aimed at the vice president’s remarks dismissing Germany’s “firewall” against the far right. Vance had argued that there should be “no place for firewalls” in politics, in reference to the German consensus that cooperation with the AfD is unacceptable.
Merz defended Germany’s institutional approach, stating that “freedom of speech remains freedom of speech,” but that misinformation, hate speech, and unlawful acts remain subject to legal scrutiny by independent courts.
His remarks also touched on the issue of press freedom, contrasting Germany’s openness with a recent decision by the White House to bar Associated Press (AP) journalists from covering President Trump’s events.
“In light of what happened yesterday in Washington, I must say that we would never have expelled a news agency from a press centre,” he said.
Scholz and Habeck Join Criticism of Vance
Chancellor Olaf Scholz also responded strongly to Vance’s remarks, stating that Germany would not tolerate foreign actors interfering in its democratic process.
“What was said here is troubling, and it cannot simply be downplayed or dismissed,” Scholz told Deutschlandfunk.
Scholz reaffirmed that Germany’s “firewall” against far-right parties is rooted in historical responsibility and a broad democratic consensus. “We need this firewall,” he said, rejecting Vance’s suggestion that such an approach undermines democracy.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck echoed Scholz’s sentiments, describing Vance’s comments as a direct challenge to European values.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius rejected Vance’s comparison of European democracy to authoritarian regimes, calling the statement “unacceptable.”
US-European Relations at a Low Point
Vance’s speech, combined with his meeting with Weidel, has fuelled concerns in Germany about the Trump administration’s willingness to break with longstanding diplomatic norms. The controversy is the latest in a series of transatlantic disagreements, including Trump’s recent threats of tariffs on European steel and aluminium and his uncoordinated outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Munich Security Conference, typically a forum for strengthening transatlantic ties, has instead highlighted growing divisions. European leaders are increasingly questioning whether they can rely on the United States as a stable partner.
Adding to the tensions, Chancellor Scholz also criticised Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for his public support of far-right parties in Europe. “Democracy is stronger than Elon Musk,” Scholz said, in remarks published by German and French media.
Despite the diplomatic strain, Merz and Vance did meet privately on the sidelines of the conference. In an online statement, Merz described their conversation as constructive, noting agreement on the need to end the war in Ukraine but stopping short of endorsing Vance’s approach to Germany’s domestic politics.
Election Implications
With Bundestag elections approaching, the controversy over US engagement with the AfD is likely to play a role in shaping the campaign narrative. While Merz has positioned himself as a staunch defender of Germany’s democratic institutions, he has also called for stronger transatlantic ties, suggesting that a future CDU-led government could seek to repair relations with Washington.
As tensions with the Trump administration grow, Germany’s leaders will have to manage strained US relations while defending their stance against the far right, countering election interference, and ensuring continued European unity.
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