German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz criticized US Vice President JD Vance’s comments, portrayed on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. Sean Gallup/Getty Image hides captions
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German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz sharply denounced US vice president JD Vance on Saturday, a day after Vance gave a speech that European leaders should not avoid far-right parties.
On the second day of the Munich Security Conference, Scholz spoke about Holocaust atrocities, pointing out that Vance had recently visited the Dachau forced camp and used the phrase “Never again.”
Scholz stressed that the “never again” commitment also applies to political parties like the German far-right alternative, also known as the AFD, which downplayed the horrors of the Nazi regime.
He went on to say that Germany will not accept outsiders who will intervene in the country’s election.
Both Scorts and Vance’s remarks come more than a week before Germany heads for a major election. The AFD, which has been approved by Trump’s advisor and billionaire Elon Musk, is voting for second place.
Founded in 2013, the AFD is a nationalist party that focuses on the condemnation of immigration on many issues in Germany. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has put the AFD under surveillance due to allegations of extremism the party has denied.
Last year, the group became the first far-right party to win the most votes in a state election since the Nazis during World War II. However, it is not yet part of the federal coalition as a result of an agreement in which other parties refuse to work with the AFD.
On Friday, Vance did not directly address the AFD, but said that German political parties should drop “firewalls.”
“Europeans, people have voices,” Vance said in his speech. “Even if you don’t agree, even if it’s surprising, you can accept what your people say to you.”
Vance met with AFD leader Alice Weidel on Friday. He met separately with German President Frank Walter Steinmeier. Friedrich Merz, head of the Centre Wright Christian Democratic Union. Just like with Scholz this week.
