The plenary session of the European Parliament descended into shouting and jeers on Thursday after left-wing MEPs refused to observe a minute of silence for American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered on Wednesday. The gesture, requested by representatives of the Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) and supported by Patriots for Europe (PfE), sparked a verbal confrontation that sharply divided the chamber.
The gesture was proposed at the beginning of the session as a sign of respect for Kirk, a prominent conservative voice on both sides of the Atlantic. However, the left-wing parties rejected the proposal, arguing such tributes should not be part of the institution’s official proceedings.
The refusal sparked a backlash from conservative and patriotic MEPs, who argued that honoring Kirk transcended politics. While conservatives attempted to uphold the minute of silence, boos and shouting were heard throughout the hall.
The verbal clashes lasted for several minutes, forcing the Parliament’s president to intervene to restore order. Tensions lingered throughout the day.
For right-wing groups, the incident showed the Left’s unwillingness to set aside politics, even out of respect for someone who has just been murdered.
The incident also highlights the widening ideological divides in the European Parliament, with even symbolic gestures now at the center of partisan clashes.
