The German chancellor stated that freedom of expression must be protected at all costs and condemned violence against politicians. According to the German Federal Criminal Police, there have been 22 attacks on politicians so far this year, compared to 27 incidents in all of 2023.
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholzhas been booed by pro-Palestinian protesters at the last rally of the social democrats (SPD) before European elections.
The protesters showed their anger at Germany’s support for Israel in its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and they booed the chancellor for most of his speech. Scholz sent a message to the protesters saying that they belonged to a democracy that allows freedom of expression, but added that the Hamas attack on Israel last october was “inhuman”.
Germany has been a Israel’s unconditional ally both politically and militarily, and the state believes it has a special responsibility to Israel, expressed in the term “reason of state” popularized by Scholz’s predecessor, Angela Merkel.
Las German arms exports to Israel have increased tenfold since 2022 and government officials have admitted that of the weapons licenses granted in 2018, 185 were approved during Israel’s military campaign. Scholz also admitted that he had told Israeli leaders to request “whatever support is necessary.”
But the military offensive of Israel in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 peoplemostly women and children, and the protesters wonder how Germany can continue its unconditional support.
It is not the first time that the German chancellor has faced criticism by support Israel. Scholz was booed at the opening of the Leipzig Book Fair in March, but the audience’s applause largely drowned out his chants.
Political violence
During his speech at the SPD rally, Scholz also said that freedom of expression must be protected at all costs and condemned violence against politicians. According to the German Federal Criminal Police, so far this year there have been 22 attacks against politicianscompared to 27 incidents in all of 2023.
“We will take action against all those who exercise violence, who make spaces small, who create a threatening presence in front of information posts, who threaten local politicianswho threaten the volunteers who work to create a better coexistence,” he said.
Scholz referred to the murder of a police officer by an Afghan in a rally against Islam last week. Since then she has promised tighten expulsion rulesbut political analysts say that this incident could give a boost to the far-right Alternative for Germany.
However, Scholz recalled that Immigrants are also victims of the violence of the far-right. Furthermore, he promised that he would not allow an escalation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the involvement of NATO, saying that a vote for the European SPD was also a vote for peace.
“We will continue to prevent escalation. That is exactly our principle. And this also includes the statement that the President of the United States and I have made again in recent days: there will be no soldiers in Ukraine from our countries or from NATO,” he said.
