EU Parliament Denies Moment of Silence for Charlie Kirk
Members of the European Parliament made headlines on Thursday when they declined a request to hold a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk, who was tragically killed while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. The news of his death has sent shockwaves across the United States.
At 31, Kirk was a prominent figure in mobilizing young conservatives as the founder of Turning Point USA. Former President Donald Trump had previously praised him as “the best of America.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded to Kirk’s death, calling it “a deep wound for democracy” during discussions in the European Parliament.
Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers, representing the European Conservatives and Reformists group, urged his colleagues to recognize the importance of freedom of speech. He called for a pause in proceedings to honor Kirk’s legacy, which was supported by members of other right-leaning parties.
However, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola denied the request, stating that tributes must be formally submitted at the beginning of plenary sessions. Since the last session had already taken place on Monday, she mentioned that a tribute could potentially be scheduled for October.
As Weimers attempted to relinquish his remaining speaking time for a moment of silence, Vice President Katarina Barley interrupted him, leading to protests from right-wing lawmakers in the chamber.
“We have discussed this, and you know the president said no to a minute of silence,” Barley stated, as members from centrist and left-leaning parties applauded.
Outside the chamber, Hungarian MEP András László criticized the parliament for what he described as hypocrisy, referencing previous tributes to figures like George Floyd while denying one for Kirk.
In response to the controversy, some lawmakers took to social media, posting images with the slogan “I am Charlie,” which recalls the response to the tragic Charlie Hebdo attack in 2015.
Roberta Metsola defended the parliament’s decision, emphasizing its adherence to procedural rules while expressing her condolences to Kirk’s family. She stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and young children — who were the bedrock of his life.”
