Bulgarian MEP fined for giving Nazi salute at the EP, Czech MEP calls it a mild warning

Bulgarian MEP Angel Dzhambazki was fined EUR 2028 earlier this month for giving the Nazi salute on the floor of the European Parliament (EP). “Our colleague Dzhambazki, who bid us all farewell by using the Nazi ‘Sieg Heil’ salute, will lose EUR 2000. We simply will not tolerate extremists and their speeches at the European Parliament under any circumstances. The decision to deprive him of six per diems was the right one,” Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, the vice-chair of the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL), posted on Twitter.

Dzhambazki, a member of a Bulgarian national movement that is a far-right, ultranationalist group, used the Nazi salute at the European Parliament in February this year during a debate on the rule of law in Hungary and Poland. He later claimed he had just been “waving” to those in the chamber. 

The Bulgarian MEP is also known for his anti-Roma statements. EP President Roberta Metsol initiated disciplinary proceedings against him in accordance with the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.

“At the plenary session in Strasbourg… Metsola announced that the Bulgarian MP would lose six daily allowances totaling EUR 2 028. She sent the clear message that we will not tolerate such displays of extremism in the European Parliament. This gesture belongs to the darkest chapter of our history and should remain there,” Zdechovský posted to his blog, adding that the amount of the fine seemed to him to be a “mild warning” that perhaps could discourage like-minded MEPs from making such gestures in the future.