Bulgarian nationalist member of the European Parliament, Angel Dzambazki, gave a Nazi salute in the hall of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Parliament Speaker Roberta Mitsola condemned the gesture and could face sanctions.
During a discussion about the rule of law in Poland and Hungary, Angel Dzambazki, of the conservative ECR group, turned around and extended his right arm in front of him for a few seconds as he climbed the stairs leading out of the conference room.
We will never let you tell us what to do and say. “Long live Bulgaria, Hungary, Urban, Fides, and Europe the nation-states,” Jamal Bazky declared in his speech.
On Twitter, he later rejected the ruling of the European Court of Justice, which on Wednesday rejected Poland and Hungary’s appeals against the rule of law mechanism.
“The fascist salute in the European Parliament is unacceptable,” Roberta Mitsola, president of the Maltese Foundation (EPP) wrote on Twitter. “This is an insult to me and to everyone in Europe,” he said. “This gesture is part of the darkest chapter in our history and it should stay there.”
The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Italian Pina Bicerno, who was leading the discussion at the time of the events, had previously indicated that the institution would check on the cameras whether it was a fascist salute or not, and if that was the case, sanctions would be imposed.
The European Parliament’s procedural rules state that “Members shall refrain from any inappropriate behavior” and “from any offensive remarks”. Failure to comply with these rules may result in penalties affecting participation in parliamentary activities or compensation.
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