A proposal to hold a minute of silence in honor of slain U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk was rejected in the European Parliament on Thursday, sparking controversy among lawmakers.
The request was put forward by Charlie Weimers, a member of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, who argued that the gesture would serve as a symbolic defense of freedom of speech. “Our right to freedom of speech cannot be extinguished,” Weimers wrote in an email circulated among dozens of MEPs, urging support for the move.
However, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola turned down the proposal, with left-wing members refusing to back the initiative. The rejection highlighted sharp political divisions within the chamber, as right-wing parties sought to honor Kirk’s legacy while opponents resisted what they saw as a politically charged gesture.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in the United States. A prominent figure in conservative politics, his death has triggered widespread mourning, including a tribute from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The European Parliament’s refusal to observe a minute of silence has already fueled debate about political bias, freedom of expression, and the international response to Kirk’s killing.
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