European Parliament declines tribute for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk

When prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Donald Trump, was fatally shot on Wednesday, the shockwaves were immediate. 

In Washington, his death triggered intense debate about political violence and partisanship. In Strasbourg, it spilled into the hemicycle, where a proposed minute of silence turned into a political spectacle.

A request denied

Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers of the far-right Sweden Democrats called on Parliament to hold a minute of silence in Kirk’s memory, declaring: “Our right to freedom of speech cannot be extinguished.” His demand quickly drew support from right-wing benches, including Germany’s AfD and France’s Identity-Liberties movement. 

Parliament President Roberta Metsola denied the request, citing the rules: such requests must be submitted at the opening of a plenary session, which had already passed earlier in the week. 

She added that if members wished, the matter could be taken up again at the October session.

Chaos in the chamber

When Weimers attempted to use his speaking time to press the point, Vice-President Katarina Barley cut him off. The move set off uproar: right-wing deputies banged on their desks in protest while centrist and left-leaning lawmakers applauded the chair. Video of the exchange, posted by Hungarian Fidesz MEP András László, captures the moment.

Critics of the refusal pointed to a perceived double standard. They compared the dismissal of Kirk’s tribute to the tribute the Parliament made in 2020 for George Floyd. László himself called the decision “hypocritical,” insisting the chamber was selective in its solidarity.

The politics of mourning

Officially, the European Parliament’s decision not to grant a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk was procedural. In practice, it became political. In a Parliament as polarized as today’s, even neutral rules are filtered through ideological lenses. 

But as Thursday’s row showed, the politics of mourning can reverberate far longer than the silence itself.