The European Parliament descended into noisy protest on September 11, 2025, after lawmakers rejected a request to observe a minute of silence for U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision exposed deep political divisions within the chamber, as right-wing Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) accused leaders of double standards.
The Request and Rejection
Charlie Weimers, a Swedish MEP representing the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, called for the tribute following reports of Kirk’s killing at a Utah campus event. Weimers framed the gesture as a symbolic stand for free speech, warning that Europe could not remain silent in the face of political violence.
Parliament President Roberta Metsola rejected the request, citing strict procedural rules. According to Parliament regulations, tributes such as moments of silence must be proposed at the start of plenary sessions. Metsola explained that the request came too late and could not be accommodated. Vice President Katarina Barley cut off attempts to prolong debate, further inflaming the protest.
Protest Inside the Chamber
The rejection immediately triggered uproar. Right-wing lawmakers banged their desks, shouted over leadership, and accused Metsola of hypocrisy. They pointed out that the chamber had previously paused for tributes in cases such as George Floyd’s killing in 2020, arguing that Kirk’s case deserved equal recognition.
Centrist and left-leaning MEPs, however, backed Metsola’s position. They stressed that rules must be applied consistently and warned against politicizing tributes in a chamber already struggling with unity.
Broader Reactions
- Outside the Parliament, right-wing commentators condemned the decision, calling it proof of European bias against conservative causes. Some conservative MEPs argued that refusing to honor Kirk weakened Europe’s credibility as a defender of democratic freedoms.
- Meanwhile, legal experts defended the Parliament’s leadership. They noted that while exceptions have been made in the past, Metsola’s refusal was consistent with existing procedure. “This was not about Kirk as an individual, but about upholding parliamentary rules,” one EU analyst told Euronews.
Impact and Implications
- The clash highlighted how U.S. political conflicts increasingly reverberate within European institutions. Kirk’s reported killing, and the subsequent debate over honoring him, demonstrated the cultural reach of America’s MAGA movement far beyond U.S. borders.
- Analysts say the episode may force the Parliament to clarify its rules for commemorations, to prevent similar disputes in the future. It also underlines the growing visibility of far-right parties in Europe, who are willing to disrupt proceedings to challenge centrist leadership.
- For now, the incident leaves the European Parliament more polarized — and shows how the legacy of an American activist can ignite division across the Atlantic.
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