MUNICH, February 14. /TASS/. Europe is facing a self-created crisis as it fears its own voters, and therefore it can do nothing for the American people, US Vice President JD Vance said, addressing the Munich Security Conference.
"Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making. If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump, you need democratic mandates to accomplish anything of value in the coming years," he pointed out, adding that to achieve that goal, European governments needed to be "more responsive" to the voices of their citizens.
"If you're going to enjoy competitive economies, if you're going to enjoy affordable energy and secure supply chains, then you need mandates to govern, because you have to make difficult choices to enjoy all of these things," the US vice president noted.
"We know that very well in America, you cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail, whether that's the leader of the opposition, a humble Christian praying in her own home, or a journalist trying to report the news. Nor can you win one by disregarding your basic electorate on questions like who gets to be a part of our shared society," Vance concluded.