EU legislators refuse a tribute to Charlie Kirk after a deadly shooting

The members of the European Parliament radically refused a request to honor Charlie Kirk via a minute of silence in the room on Thursday.

Kirk, 31, was tragically killed on Wednesday when he was addressed to students at the University of Utah Valley, sending shock waves across the country.

Kirk was known to mobilize young conservatives and appeared on university campuses with Turning Point USA. President Donald Trump called him “the best in America”.

In the EU, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the attack on Kirk when he was killed as “a deep injury to democracy”.

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Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, distributes Maga hats to the public on May 1, 2025 during a TPUSA event in California. (Michael Ho Wai Lee / Sopa Images / Lightrocket via Getty Images)

The Swedish deputy Charlie Weimers, of the European group of conservatives and reformists, asked procedures for the Chamber on Thursday and to “declare that our right to freedom of expression cannot be extinguished”.

Weimer’s wish was supported by members of the German AFD movement and the identity of France.

But the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, denied the request and said that the procedural rules requiring tributes were to be officially subject to the opening of a plenary session.

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Flags from the 27 EU countries flies in the wind in front of the European Parliament on April 5, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Thierry Monasse / Getty Images)

Since this session had already taken place on Monday, Metsola noted that a tribute could still be scheduled for October.

When Weimers abandoned his speaking time remaining for a moment of silence, vice-president Katarina Barley cut her, causing the office demonstrations of the right-wing legislators in the room.

“We have discussed this, and you know that the president said no to a minute of silence,” said Barley while the centrist and left members applaud.

Outside the chamber, the Hungarian deputy for Fidesz András László accused the parliament of hypocrisy, stressing that he had previously honored George Floyd but refused Kirk.

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Online, some legislators have also published “I am Charlie” images, showing the Slogan of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack.

Metsola defended the decision in accordance with the parliamentary procedure and presented condolences.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and young children-who were the foundation of his life,” she said.