Bulgarian MEP gives Nazi salute in European Parliament
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Strasbourg (France) (AFP) – A Bulgarian nationalist MEP gave a Nazi salute in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, sparking outrage after speaking during a debate on the rule of law in Poland and Hungary.
Climbing the steps that lead to the exit of the hemicycle, Angel Dzhambazki of the eurosceptic group ECR can be seen on a video of the debate turning around and extending his right arm in front of him for a few seconds before leaving.
“We will never allow you to tell us what to say and what to do. Long live Bulgaria, Hungary, Orban, Fidesz and the Europe of nation states,” the representative of the Bulgarian nationalist party VMRO had previously told parliament.
He also described on Twitter as “abomination” the decision taken on Wednesday by the EU’s highest court, the European Court of Justice, to validate a mechanism, contested by Poland and Hungary, allowing funds to be blocked countries where there are violations of the rule of law.
The vice-president of the European Parliament, the Italian Pina Picierno, who led the debate, declared that the institution would “check with the cameras what happened in this hemicycle, to see if there was a fascist salute or not”.
“We do not allow fascist gestures and symbols under any circumstances. If this has been done, it is extremely serious and sanctions will be taken,” she warned.
The French government’s secretary of state for European affairs, Clément Beaune, who was present as part of his country’s EU presidency, called the gesture “scandalous and outrageous” on Twitter.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola tweeted that “a fascist salute to the European Parliament is unacceptable to me – always and everywhere”.
“It offends me and everyone in Europe,” she added.
“We stand for the opposite. We are the House of Democracy. This gesture belongs to the darkest chapter of our history and must remain there.”
© 2022 AFP