Munich — On Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz firmly defended his stance against the far-right, saying his country will not accept anyone who “intervene in our democracy,” a day after US Vice President JD Vance chastised European leaders for their attitude to democracy. The German leader spoke just eight days before key elections in Germany, where surveys show the far-right Alternative for Germany party presently in second place. Vance stated Friday at the Munich Security Conference that he believes free expression is “in retreat” across the continent.

“Germany is a very strong democracy, and as a strong democracy, we are absolutely clear that the extreme right should be out of political control and out of political decision making processes, and that there will be no cooperation with them,” says Scholz. “We really reject any idea of cooperation between parties, other parties and this extreme right parties.” A few hours prior, Vance stated that many Americans saw in the region “entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation, who simply don’t like the idea that somebody with an alternative viewpoint might express a different opinion or, God forbid, vote a different way, or even worse, win an election.” Scholz responded, saying, “Free speech in Europe means that you are not attacking others in ways that are against legislation and laws we have in our country.” He was alluding to rules in Germany that restrict hate speech.
Responding, Scholz added, “free speech in Europe means that you are not attacking others in ways that are against legislation and laws we have in our country.” He was referring to German rules that prohibit hate speech. The comments came as European leaders were struggling to make sense of a stern new position from Washington on matters such as democracy and Ukraine’s future, as the Trump administration continued to upend trans-Atlantic standards established after World War II. US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, saying the two leaders would likely meet soon to broker a peace settlement over Ukraine. Trump later told Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that , too, would have a seat at the table. The war was sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Already on Friday, the Ukrainian leader stated that his country requires security guarantees before engaging in any negotiations with Russia. Shortly before meeting with Vance in Munich, Zelenskyy stated that he will only agree to meet in person with Putin if a common plan is developed with Trump. Following a 40-minute conversation with Zelenskyy, Vance stated that the Trump administration wants the war to end.

Beforehand, Vance lectured European authorities on free speech and illegal migration on the continent, saying that they risk losing popular support if they don’t change their ways soon. “The threat I am most concerned about in relation to Europe is not Russia. It is not China. “It’s not any other external actor,” Vance remarked in a speech that elicited a muted response. “What I worry about is the threat from within — the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.” On the margins of the event, Vance met with Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party, nine days before the German election.

Mainstream German parties say they won’t work with the party — in a longstanding stance to shun the extreme right in a country scarred by Nazism.

Vance later headed back to Washington.

Among other speakers set to take the dais in Munich were NATO chief Mark Rutte and foreign ministers from countries including Canada, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and from Syria’s new government