In debates about cuts
Scandal in the EU Parliament: Bulgarian MP allegedly shows Hitler salute
Angel Dzhambazki at a plenary session in the European Parliament
© Dwi Anoraganingrum/Geisler-Fotop / Picture Alliance
With an alleged Hitler salute, the Bulgarian MP Angel Dzhambazki caused a scandal in the EU Parliament. During the debate, Dzhambazki left the plenary hall with his right arm raised.
With a gesture that was widely understood as a Hitler salute, a right-wing Bulgarian MEP caused outrage in the EU Parliament. “A Hitler salute in the EU Parliament is completely unacceptable for me – anytime and anywhere,” said a statement by Parliament President Roberta Metsola, which was read out in plenary on Thursday morning.
Alleged Hitler salute in the EU Parliament: President condemns gesture
Video of Wednesday’s incident shows MP Angel Dzhambazki turning towards the seats and raising his outstretched right arm as he exits the lectern. A spokesman for Metsola said sanctions proceedings would be initiated immediately.
Dzhambazki himself denies that it was a Hitler salute. In a letter to the MPs, which was available to the dpa, he described the gesture as an “innocent wave” with which he wanted to apologize for provocative statements in his speech.
He was shocked by the allegations, which he described as defamation. The Group of European Conservatives and Reformists, to which Djambazki belongs, takes the incident very seriously, a spokesman said.
Debate on the rule of law mechanism
The scene happened during a debate on the European Court of Justice’s ruling on the so-called rule of law mechanism, which allows EU member states to cut funding if rule of law problems threaten abuse. Dzhambazki said in the debate that the matter is not at all about law, but about the hatred of many in the EU Parliament against states and nations. He will never allow “you to tell us how to act and what we are allowed to say”. Shortly thereafter, he made the gesture.
The leader of the Christian Democrats in the EU Parliament, Manfred Weber, wrote on Twitter that his group condemned the incident and demanded immediate punishment. “It’s the opposite of what the European Parliament stands for.” According to the rules of procedure of the EU Parliament, sanctions can include a reprimand, a temporary loss of daily allowance or a temporary suspension from parliamentary activities.