- J.D. Vance talked about freedom of speech. He estimated that Russia, China and “no another American actor are the biggest threats to Europe, and the threat from within, Europe's retreat from any of its most fundamental values,values shared with the USA’
- — This is unacceptable," Pistorius said, to which the conference participants responded with long applause
- — Democracy does not mean that a loud number is automatically right and decides the truth. Democracy must be able to defend itself against extremists who want to destruct it," Pistorius emphasized, referring to AfD
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— I am a convinced supporter of transatlantic cooperation, a large friend of America, American Dream has fascinated me forever. That's why I can't get over it, I can't leave the US Vice President's speech without comment. said Pistorius, leaving the prepared text of the speech.
A sharp ripost of the defence minister Pistorius to Vance
Pistorius accused Vance of questioning democracy in Europe and comparing the situation in part of the continent to the situation in authoritarian regimes.
— This is unacceptable," Pistorius said, to which the conference participants responded with long applause. He stressed that the Europe presented by the US Vice president is not a Europe in which he lives and conducts an election campaign.
— In this democracy, all view has a voice," the SPD politician stressed. As he explained, parties in extremist parts, specified as the alternate to Germany (AfD), can run an election campaign, as could all another groups.
— Democracy, however, does not mean that a loud number is automatically right and decides the truth. Democracy must be able to defend itself against extremists, who want to destruct it," Pistorius said.
“I am energetically opposed to the impression that Vice president Vance left that minorities are being persecuted in our democracy and that they are being forced to stay silent. We know not only who we defend our country against, but also What we are fighting for – democracy, freedom of speech, the regulation of law and the dignity of all man – emphasized the clearly agitated head of the German Defence Ministry.
Europe's criticism of Vance's speech
The American Vice president devoted his speech to Munich in full an acute criticism of European democracy.
“The threat I am most afraid about in Europe is not Russia, it is not China, it is not any another external actor. What I am most worried about is the threat from within, Europe's retreat from any of its most basic values, values shared with the United States of America," Vance stated. As 1 of the main examples, he pointed out the cancellation of the presidential elections in Romania and the fight against misinformation.
Elon Musk, a billionaire and close associate of U.S. president Donald Trump, has publically supported the pro-Russian and Eurosceptic AfD in fresh months.
