Bulgarian MEP gives Nazi salute in the European Parliament

Angel Dzhambazki sits in parliamentary group founded by the UK’s Conservatives

A right-wing Bulgarian MEP has sparked outrage by giving a Nazi salute during a debate in the European Parliament.

Angel Dzhambazki, from the Bulgarian National Movement party, made the gesture after speaking during a debate on the rule of law in Poland and Hungary.

The European Commission and Parliament have made moves to crack down on the countries' apparent drift towards authoritarian under populist right-wing leaders.

“We will never allow you to tell us what to say and do. Long live Bulgaria, Hungary, Orbán, Fidesz and the Europe of nation states,” Mr Dzhambazki had earlier told parliament.

He faces a possible sanction over the gesture and reportedly later told colleagues it was not a fascist salute and that it was subject to “a small misunderstanding”.

Mr Dzhambazki's party sits in the European Conservatives and Reformists group, which was founded by the UK's Conservatives and includes an array of right-wing, eurosceptic, and far-right parties.

David Cameron pulled the Tories out of the mainstream centre-right group in 2009 to create the alternative group.

Roberta Metsola, the Maltese president of the European Parliament, who sits in the centre-right EPP group said: "A fascist salute in the European Parliament is unacceptable to me - always and everywhere.

"It offends me and everyone else in Europe. We stand for the opposite. We are the House of democracy. That gesture is from the darkest chapter of our history and must be left there."

Mr Dzhambazki’s office did not respond to a request for comment.