"The Munich Security Conference (MSC) has invited lawmakers from the Alternative fur Deutschland to join its annual gathering of top international defence officials in February after shutting out the far-right party for the last two years. The reversal, which was confirmed by organisers, came after the US vice-president, JD Vance, lambasted the AfD's exclusion in a blistering speech at this year's event in which he accused Germany of stifling free speech by sidelining the anti-migrant, pro-Kremlin party."
"A spokesperson for MSC declined to explain the new policy, saying only that the event, which has been held in the Bavarian capital since 1963, was run by a private, independent foundation and under no obligation to anyone to issue invitations to its events. It was decided to invite members of parliament from all parties represented in the Bundestag, in particular members of the foreign affairs and defence committees, the spokesperson said."
The Munich Security Conference invited lawmakers from Alternative fur Deutschland to its February meeting after excluding the party for two years. Organisers confirmed the reversal followed criticism from US vice-president JD Vance, who publicly condemned the exclusion. An MSC spokesperson declined to explain the policy change and said the conference is run by a private, independent foundation that invites members of parliament from all Bundestag parties, especially foreign affairs and defence committee members. About ten AfD MPs sit on the foreign affairs committee and nine on the defence committee. JD Vance met AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, who said she had not received a 2026 invitation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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