German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) sharply criticized foreign interference in the upcoming German federal election at the Munich Security Conference.
“We will not accept it if external forces, in favor of the AfD, intervene in our democracy, in our elections and in the democratic opinion-forming process” Scholz said on Saturday on the main stage of the MSC. “That doesn’t belong – especially not among friends and allies.” We will firmly reject this. “How our democracy will continue, we will decide for ourselves.”
“Our modern democracy in Germany and in Europe is based on the historical certainty that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats” the Chancellor added. Therefore, institutions have been created to make democracies resilient against their enemies. “And rules that do not restrict our freedom, but protect it.”
Vance had criticized the Europeans the day before for a “departure from fundamental values” and “fear of their own voters” and also spoke out against “walls of fire” like those against the AfD in Germany. The expected announcement that Europe would have to take care of its own security in the future, however, was missing.
Scholz responded to this on Saturday and said that defense spending must continue to rise significantly. “Not just to make Europe a partner on an equal footing for the US, but so that we Europeans can continue to live in peace” Scholz said.