Free Republic

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor voices the frustrations felt across the European ruling class at President Donald Trump tearing up the status quo on trade, decrying an “attack”.The European Union, which has been hit with tariffs twice as high as post-Brexit Britain given the bloc’s protectionist policies and tariffs on imports, is expressing its distress and even outrage at President Trump’s bid to reform the United States’ trade relationship with the world.Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz who is still technically in power nearly six weeks after he lost the Federal elections in February spoke in defence of the globalist status quo on Thursday....

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump Europe has spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine —BY FAR! Mar 03, 2025

... While Scholz didn’t call out the U.S. leader by name, there’s no doubt who he was slapping down when he said: “Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the elected head of the state of Ukraine. The inability to hold regular elections in the midst of war is in line with the Ukrainian constitution and electoral laws. No one should claim otherwise.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has had almost nothing but warm words for Trump since he reentered the White House, to try to keep the so-called special relationship alive. But Ukraine is something of a red line. Starmer called Zelenskyy on...

"We Europeans will not allow that. Nor will we allow anyone to agree on the demilitarization of Ukraine," he saidBERLIN, February 17. /TASS/. The European Union must take part in the negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict and make sure that nobody agrees to Ukraine's demilitarization, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. Scholz rejected the possibility of exclusive US-Russian agreements on Ukraine. "We Europeans will not allow that. Nor will we allow anyone to agree on the demilitarization of Ukraine," he said during an election debate. At the same time, the German chancellor reiterated that Ukraine needs a strong...

German chancellor Olaf Scholz criticises U.S. President’s demand for Ukrainian rare earths in exchange for U.S. aid, emphasising selflessness in helping Ukraine. German chancellor Olaf Scholz slammed as “selfish and self-serving” Donald Trump’s demands for Ukrainian rare earths in exchange for U.S. military aid, in an interview published on Saturday (February 8, 2025). -snip- “Ukraine is under attack and we are helping it, without asking to be paid in return. This should be everyone’s position,” Mr. Scholz told the RND media group, when asked about Mr. Trump’s demands for a possible quid pro quo for U.S. aid. The German chancellor...

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to tie future military aid for Ukraine to access to its rare earth resources, calling the move "very egotistic, very self-centered." Scholz said that Ukraine needs its natural resources to finance post-war rebuilding, not to bargain for security assistance. "That's why I think it would be better if Ukraine's resources were used for a good future," he said. However, Ukraine appears more open to the idea — at least the opening up of its critical raw materials to allies, if not explicitly the quid pro quo suggested by...

The EU has warned Donald Trump it is ready to retaliate against “hurtful” tariffs as the US president kick-started a global trade war. European leaders including Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, warned that the EU had “its own courses of action” after the new president said the bloc had treated the US “terribly” and would be next in line for tariffs after Canada, China and Mexico. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is set to be the UK’s first Prime Minister to attend an EU summit since Brexit, when he travels to Brussels on Monday as part of a “reset”...

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took an opportunity on the campaign trail Tuesday to criticize Elon Musk, telling CNN that the US billionaire “is intervening in favor of right-wing politicians all over Europe. And this is really disgusting”. Ahead of Germany’s February election, Musk has been controversially inserting himself into the German election campaign in favor of the far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Speaking to CNN, as he came off stage after an hour’s talk with voters in Berlin, the Chancellor said, “I disagree completely with Elon Musk and what he is doing.” He explained as a political leader...

“We have the freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany,” said Scholz. “Everyone can say what he wants, even if he is a billionaire. And what we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme-right positions.” For his part, Musk dismissed the criticism of his gesture as a “tired” attack. “Shame on Oaf Schitz,” he said on his own platform X.

Germany and France have warned Donald Trump against threatening Greenland, after the US president-elect refused to rule out using military force to seize Denmark's autonomous territory. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said "the principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country... no matter whether it's a very small one or a very powerful one". French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said "there is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders". On Tuesday, Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, saying that the Arctic island was "critical" for national and...

Germany's ruling coalition has collapsed after Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner just hours after Donald Trump's US election win. The coalition collapsed due to disagreements over budget policy, with Lindner opposing tax hikes and debt increases. Scholz plans a parliamentary confidence vote on January 15, potentially leading to a snap election by March 2025. Germany’s conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz said there's "absolutely no reason" to wait that long. "There is absolutely no reason to wait until January of next year to ask for a vote of confidence," he said. "The traffic light coalition no longer has...

Germany's governing coalition is in crisis after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired a key minister and said he would call a vote of confidence in his government early next year. Scholz said he had no trust in Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who leads a rival party that has been part of the coalition along with Scholz's Social Democrats and the Greens. The move means Scholz's government no longer has a majority in parliament. The confidence vote could lead to early elections by March. The so-called "traffic light" coalition led by the chancellor has governed Germany since 2021.

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called the return of 28 Afghan nationals to Afghanistan a "clear sign" that foreign-born criminals won't be spared deportation. A government spokesperson said on Friday that the Afghan citizens were all "convicted criminals" but did not respond to a request for comment to clarify their offences. "We prepared this carefully without talking much about it because such a project only succeeds if you make an effort, if you do it carefully and very discreetly," Scholz said. "I would therefore like to thank everyone who has helped to make this happen. And it is a clear...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour." Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2023 The US on Saturday "unequivocally" condemned the attack by "Hamas terrorists" against Israel, the White House said in a statement. "The United...

Kazakhstan’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, hosted routine talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Astana on November 9. At the customary, post-meeting press conference, Tokayev said little that was new, yet his delivery marked a notable departure from the past. He opened his remarks in Kazakh, not Russian. Tokayev’s rhetoric included the usual platitudes concerning the strength of bilateral relations, which he said were underpinned by “unshakable values of mutual respect and trust.” He went on to “confirm Kazakhstan is committed to the strategic direction of further strengthening comprehensive cooperation with Russia.” But in making top Russian officials in attendance, including...

The tie that binds? Voters are tired of “immigrants.”Germany is having a real time of it lately. Besides the Greens getting shellacked over bankrupting their citizenry while driving the country into the Dark Ages – and I do mean dark – one of the most cherished aspirational goals of their former long-time chancellor looks to be on its last legs as well.Merkel, Schmerkel – who needs these all frickin’ “immigrant” headaches? It seems as if Chancellor Olaf Scholz is listening to either his voters, or maybe even he has had enough.”We must finally deport on a large scale those who...

German defence minister says his country cannot protect itself in warThe Germany Defence Minister said the army of his country is understaffed and does not have adequate equipment as it has been neglected from the federal government for decades Berlin: German army is not capable of protecting the country against any offensive, said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. He further alleged that the Bundeswehr is understaffed and under-equipped after being left neglected from the federal government for decades. “We have no armed forces that are capable of defending [Germany] that is, capable of defending [it] against an offensive, brutally waged aggressive...

Europe to send modern armoured vehicles as Russia prepares new mobilisation Kyiv and allies have been calling on Germany to send Leopard 2 battle tanks Germany has been reluctant, but foreign minister has signalled shift if position Germany would not block Poland sending its Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, its foreign minister said, in a blow for Putin and his invading forces. Ukrainian officials have been calling on Western allies to supply them the modern German-made armour for months, but Germany has held back from sending them or allowing other Nato countries to do so. In apparent shift, Annalena...

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser dismissed Arne Schoenbohm as head of the BSI agency, following reports which "damaged the necessary confidence of the public in the neutrality and impartiality" of his management, the ministry said on Tuesday.... The Cyber Security Council Germany, which Mr Schoenbohm chaired until he became the head of the BSI in 2016, was prone to influence from Russian companies and even the Kremlin’s intelligence agencies, the report said. German media have reported that one of its members was a German company that is a subsidiary of a Russian cybersecurity firm founded by a former KGB agent, which...

The chairman of the Palestinian Authority, who is visiting Berlin, avoided condemning the massacre of the athletes in Munich - and while he was giving his speech, Chancellor Schulz was seen contorting his face. Prime Minister: "a moral disgrace". Earlier, Schultz clarified that for him, Israel is not an apartheid state According to the AP news agency, during the PA chairman's speech, the German chancellor grimaced in displeasure - however, he did not react in real time, but later issued a statement to the German "Bild" in which he criticized Abu Mazen's choice of words. The horrors of the Holocaust...