ALDE Group leader, Guy Verhofstadt, reacted today to the political situation in Bulgaria, after a deputy minister from the United Patriots, an extreme right political party member of Boyko Borisov’s Government,was pictured giving a Nazi Salute. Though the high official resigned yesterday, the Bulgarian Government has brushed aside the incident.
“The future of Bulgaria must not be left in the hands of extreme nationalists. I am very concerned that the participation of the United Patriots in this government undermines European values. Our continent knows what happens if xenophobia and hate speech win, if societies are polarised and divided because of ethnicity. We must not make this mistake again.
The Prime–minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov, and the EPP family, bear responsibility for the future of Bulgaria and also for the successful conduct of the upcoming Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council.
Prime-minister Borisov should reassess his coalition relations and demonstrate that he will have zero tolerance towards extremist and nationalist attitudes by members of his government.
