Vance criticizes EU leaders for ‘running in fear’
The US Vice President has criticized the EU for not maintaining democratic values, pointing to the canceled elections in Romania as evidence. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The US vice president has pointed to the annulled Romanian presidential elections as a key example.
US Vice President J.D. Vance has reproached European leaders for their apprehension towards their own voters and their failure to uphold democratic principles, highlighting the recent cancellation of Romania’s presidential election.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, he stated that the primary threat to Europe arises from internal sources, condemning what he referred to as the stifling of free speech.
Vance specifically mentioned the cancelled Romanian presidential elections, noting they were annulled “on the flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors.”
He challenged the idea that democracy could be compromised by foreign digital advertising, arguing that if one believes this is a legitimate threat, then their democracy “was not very strong to begin with.”
He further encouraged European Union leaders to “embrace what your people tell you,” even when it is “surprising” and contrasts with their own views.
“If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump,” Vance remarked.
The US vice president characterized the “cavalier” remarks from officials in Brussels, who appeared “delighted” by the annulled Romanian elections and by expansive content moderation powers or other restrictions on free speech in the US, Germany, and Sweden, as “shocking to American ears.”
Vance also dismissed critiques of Elon Musk’s purported interference in European elections, stating, “if American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg’s scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.”
Musk, known for his close ties to US President Donald Trump, stirred controversy in Germany by endorsing the AfD party for this month’s federal election, declaring that “the entire fate of Europe” hinges on its outcome. In response, the German government accused him of election interference, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz asserting that freedom of speech does not include promoting “extreme-right positions.”
Vance’s remarks come amid Romania’s political crisis following the Constitutional Court’s December ruling to annul the presidential election that saw independent candidate Calin Georgescu unexpectedly winning in November. The court cited intelligence documents that alleged ‘irregularities’ in Georgescu’s campaign. The 62-year-old, who largely promoted his campaign through TikTok, was also accused of receiving funds from foreign sources, presumably Russia.
However, none of these allegations were supported by credible evidence, while preliminary findings from an investigation into the election controversy indicated that the pro-Western National Liberal Party was responsible for the campaign “irregularities.”
Moscow has dismissed these allegations as “absolutely groundless.”
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
US Vice President J.D. Vance has reproached European leaders for their apprehension towards their own voters and their failure to uphold democratic principles, highlighting the recent cancellation of Romania’s presidential election.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, he stated that the primary threat to Europe arises from internal sources, condemning what he referred to as the stifling of free speech.
Vance specifically mentioned the cancelled Romanian presidential elections, noting they were annulled “on the flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors.”
He challenged the idea that democracy could be compromised by foreign digital advertising, arguing that if one believes this is a legitimate threat, then their democracy “was not very strong to begin with.”
He further encouraged European Union leaders to “embrace what your people tell you,” even when it is “surprising” and contrasts with their own views.
“If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump,” Vance remarked.
The US vice president characterized the “cavalier” remarks from officials in Brussels, who appeared “delighted” by the annulled Romanian elections and by expansive content moderation powers or other restrictions on free speech in the US, Germany, and Sweden, as “shocking to American ears.”
Vance also dismissed critiques of Elon Musk’s purported interference in European elections, stating, “if American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg’s scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.”
Musk, known for his close ties to US President Donald Trump, stirred controversy in Germany by endorsing the AfD party for this month’s federal election, declaring that “the entire fate of Europe” hinges on its outcome. In response, the German government accused him of election interference, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz asserting that freedom of speech does not include promoting “extreme-right positions.”
Vance’s remarks come amid Romania’s political crisis following the Constitutional Court’s December ruling to annul the presidential election that saw independent candidate Calin Georgescu unexpectedly winning in November. The court cited intelligence documents that alleged ‘irregularities’ in Georgescu’s campaign. The 62-year-old, who largely promoted his campaign through TikTok, was also accused of receiving funds from foreign sources, presumably Russia.
However, none of these allegations were supported by credible evidence, while preliminary findings from an investigation into the election controversy indicated that the pro-Western National Liberal Party was responsible for the campaign “irregularities.”
Moscow has dismissed these allegations as “absolutely groundless.”
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
