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Angel Dzhambazki

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Angel Dzhambazki
Ангел Джамбазки
Dzhambazki in 2013
Member of the European Parliament
for Bulgaria
In office
1 July 2014 – 15 July 2024
Preceded byDimitar Stoyanov
Succeeded byIvaylo Valchev
Member of the Sofia City Council
In office
19 November 2007 – 29 May 2014
Personal details
Born
Angel Chavdarov Dzhambazki

(1979-03-21) 21 March 1979 (age 45)
Sofia, PR Bulgaria
Political partyVMRO (since 1997)
Other political
affiliations		European Conservatives and Reformists
ChildrenBilyana
Alma materSofia University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
Websitehttps://www.djambazki.org

Angel Chavdarov Dzhambazki (Bulgarian: Ангел Чавдаров Джамбазки, born 21 March 1979) is a Bulgarian nationalist[1] politician who served as Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2024.[2] He is also a co-chairman of VMRO,[3] having joined the nationalist party's youth organization in 1997 and gradually progressed through its ranks.[4]

Dzhambazki is a graduate of Sofia University, where he specialized in international studies.[4]

Politics

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Member of the Sofia City Council

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Dzhambazki was a member of the Sofia city council between 2007 and 2014 after first being elected on the ticket of GERB, though making use of the quota for citizens,[5] and then securing a seat in October 2011 as a candidate of VMRO.[6]

In November 2013, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee notified Bulgaria's then-Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov in relation to comments made by Dzhambazki, other VMRO members and football fans during an anti-immigrant procession in Sofia. Dzhambazki has criticized the non-governmental organization for being what it described as an "instrument for the destruction of the nation".[7]

Three years later, Dzhambazki and his party filed a motion before Tsatsarov, which sought to have the activities of the Helsinki Committee banned in Bulgaria, alleging that they had been "pressuring" and "influencing" judges through the use of seminars, which they claim led to the granting of the parole request of Jock Palfreeman. The NGO rejected the allegations, dubbing them a "part of the VMRO's election campaign".[8]

Member of the European Parliament

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In May 2014, Dzhambazki was elected to the European Parliament as a member of the Bulgaria Without Censorship-VMRO electoral coalition.[9] In 2016 and 2017, Dzhambazki has been accused of racist, xenophobic and homophobic comments.[10][11]

He was reelected to the European Parliament on his party's own list in the 2019 European Parliament election.

Candidate for Mayor of Sofia

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In September 2019, he announced his candidacy for Mayor of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital and largest city, during Bulgaria's 2019 local elections. He focused his campaign on dismantling ghettos inhabited primarily by Bulgaria's Romani minority, as well as banning the annual Sofia Pride gay parade as part of what he described as a 'law and order' campaign.[12][13] He came under criticism from his former coalition partner Volen Siderov, as he refused to resign his seat on the European Parliament as he stood for election as Mayor of Sofia.[14] He came in fifth with 3.90% of the vote.[15]

Political views and statements

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Since the start of his political career, Dzhambazki has opposed the role of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in Bulgarian politics, declaring the party as "toxic" and a "criminal organization".[16][17][18][19]

In April 2019, Dzhambazki celebrated the cancellation of Bulgaria's "National Strategy for Children (2019-2030)", which he stated was "scandalous" and would "legalize controversial practices in childrearing, debate the role of the family and parents and lead to a conclusion that would lead the country along the perverted lines of countries such as Norway or the Netherlands". He declared that the cancellation of the strategy was a victory for himself and his party, which he opined would continue to "fight to defend tradition, the family and Christian values" and against "multiculturalism and eurobureaocratism".[20][21]

Dzhambazki condemned a statement to the UN general assembly by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva regarding child rights on 27 September 2019, stating that he found it "unacceptable" for the interests of the child to be viewed as "isolated" from its parents or to come into conflict with the parent's interests. He also stated that he found it "unacceptable" for biological parents to have the same status as legal guardians and social services put in care of children.[22]

On 26 November 2019, he condemned the Istanbul Convention against domestic violence, which he stated would not prevent violence against women, but instead "destroy the Christian family and traditional values, consisting of a man, woman and their children", adding that "everything else is a perversion and gender propaganda".[23]

On 27 November 2019, he delivered a speech to the European Parliament, in which he accused the plenary session of being "devoted to LGBT propaganda" and stated that he rejected "homosexual propaganda, as well as actions close to paedophillia". He further accused the EU Parliament of Bolshevism, stating to the assembly that the parliament had acted like "Chinese communist-bolsheviks", which led to him being booed by MEPs.[24]

Dzhambazki took a vocally strong stance against the 2019 proposed changes[clarification needed] to the EU transport law proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron.[clarification needed] Dzhambazki stated that the reform plan had been pushed alongside an "organized campaign against Bulgarian national interests", as the reforms were deemed to hurt Bulgarian transport companies.[25] On 17 December 2019, a statement he published online against the proposed reform package was put under investigation for racism by the European Parliament, after he dubbed transport committee chairwoman Karima Delli a "French woman from Algerian descent" and another one of the bill's authors, Ismail Ertug, as a "German man from Turkish descent".[26] Following condemnation from several MEPs, Dzhambazki stated that he would apologise if the two felt offended, adding that he himself would not be offended if someone were to dub him a "Bulgarian from Macedonian descent".[27][28]

In April 2020, Dzhambazki stated that the Bulgarian population needed to be protected from the Roma people, which amount to about 5% of the population, while some argue numbers could be twice the size.[29]

Dzhambazki has repeatedly stated that "Macedonia is Bulgarian."[30][31][32][33] He has also stated that Macedonians and Bulgarians are one nation.[32] Dzhambazki has disputed the 2021 North Macedonia census, in regards to the number of enumerated Bulgarians.[34]

Controversies

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On 16 February 2022, after defending the governments of Hungary and Poland in a speech at the European Parliament, Dzhambazki insulted his fellow MEP Sandro Gozi (Renew Europe) and apparently made a Nazi salute while leaving the chamber. Dzhambazki's actions were immediately censored by the Vice-President of the European Parliament Giuseppina Picierno, who was presiding over the session.[35]

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, stated that Dzhambazki could be sanctioned under Rule 10 of the European Parliament’s rules of procedure which deals with the conduct of members of the European parliament. Dzhambazki said his hand sign was a goodbye signal to his political career.[36][37]

Personal life

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In addition to his native Bulgarian, Dzhambazki also speaks English, German and Russian.[4] Among his hobbies is mountaineering.[38]

He has stated that before entering politics, he sold newspapers and pizza.[39][40]

On 19 November 2018, Dzhambazki was detained at Sofia Airport after an attempt to bring a Makarov pistol onto a flight. The weapon was legally owned and Dzhambazki stated that he had forgotten to remove it from his luggage prior to boarding. It was kept in storage by airport authorities for a few days, following which it was returned to Dzhambazki.[41][42]

In a 2019 interview, Dzhambazki announced that he had fathered a daughter, who he named Bilyana after a protagonist in a song, but did not mention who the child's mother was and stated that he did not wish to discuss his personal life further.[43][39]

On 6 December 2019, he was caught driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol at night by a Bulgarian police patrol. The breathalyzer test administered to him initially showed a result of a BAC by volume of 1,5 per mille, punishable under Bulgarian law by 1 to 3 years imprisonment, though he was not charged due to his legal immunity as an MEP.[44] А blood test given by Dzhambazki later verified that he had consumed alcohol, but showed a lowered BAC figure to under 1,2 per mille - punishable under Bulgarian law with an administrative penalty. Dzhambazki confessed that he had been drinking and driving that night, stating that he regretted and was embarrassed by what he dubbed his own "absolutely bad judgement, irrational and irresponsible behaviour". He pledged that in the future he would quit either drinking or driving.[45][46]

On 7 January 2020, MEP and Reload Bulgaria leader Nikolay Barekov accused Dzhambazki of abusing his influence and forensic manipulation in regards to his DUI, submitting the case before Bulgaria's newly-appointed Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev. The allegation was that Dzhambazki did not give a blood test to the hospital which he was ordered to visit, but instead to the Military Medical Academy, an institution subordinate to Bulgarian Minister of Defence and fellow VMRO party leader Krasimir Karakachanov.[47]

During the COVID-19 pandemic Dzhambazki has volunteered at the COVID ward in the Military Medical Academy.[48]

References

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  1. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки: Аз съм български националист. Европа е моят избор - Интервю". offnews.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  2. ^ "И Джамбазки бе приет при европейските консерватори". mediapool.bg. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
  3. ^ "Шилото Джамбазки". standartnews.com. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
  4. ^ a b c "Профил на Ангел Джамбазки" (in Bulgarian). omda.bg. 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
  5. ^ "Капка Сидерова съветник, ГЕРБ с пълно мнозинство". Столичен общински виртуален пресцентър (Sofia municipality virtual presscenter). 2011-10-26. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
  6. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки, зам.-председател на ВМРО, ексклузивно пред Топ ПРЕСА". toppresa.com. 2015-05-02. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  7. ^ "БХК като инструмент за унищожението на нацията". VMRO Official Website. 2014-01-07. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  8. ^ "ВМРО иска от Цацаров да прекрати дейността на БХК". Lex.bg News (in Bulgarian). 2019-09-30. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  9. ^ "Представяне на основните кандидати за евродепутати 2014-2019 г." (PDF). novabulgaria.eu (p.12). May 2014. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  10. ^ "ECR group MEP accused of racist, xenophobic and homophobic comments | The Parliament Magazine". www.theparliamentmagazine.eu. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  11. ^ "Bulgarian MEP Accused of Hate Speech Against Roma :: Balkan Insight". www.balkaninsight.com. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  12. ^ "Джамбазки: Ред и сигурност в София, без гета и гей паради". Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  13. ^ "Джамбазки отговори на Сидеров и даде съвет". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  14. ^ "Волен Сидеров, лидер на "Атака" и кандидат за кмет на София: Подадох оставка от НС! И Джамбазки да напусне ЕП, иначе мами избирателите". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  15. ^ "Резултати :: Местни избори 27 октомври 2019". results.cik.bg. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  16. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки: ДПС и част от Реформаторския блок обслужват турски интереси". politikata.net. 2014-05-09. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  17. ^ news.bg (2018-04-28). "Джамбазки: ДПС е токсична за българското общество". News.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  18. ^ каза, А. (24 September 2019). "Джамбазки: ДПС е криминална организация". www.mignews.info (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  19. ^ "Джамбазки за ДПС: Мафиотска организация от феодален тип - България". dariknews.bg (in Bulgarian). 28 April 2018. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  20. ^ "Джамбазки за спряната Стратегия за детето: Добра новина! - Big5.bg". big5.bg (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  21. ^ Епицентър. "Джамбазки за спряната Стратегия за детето: Добра новина за българското семейство преди Великден!". epicenter.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  22. ^ "Джамбазки обвини Захариева, че прокарва джендър идеологията". Glasove.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  23. ^ "Джамбазки: Целта на Истанбулската конвенция е да разруши традиционното християнско семейство". tribune.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  24. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки с гей скандал в ЕП - EU". Novini.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  25. ^ "Джамбазки за пакета "Мобилност": Вече е започнала организирана кампания срещу българските интереси - Политика". Novini.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  26. ^ "Европарламентът разследва Джамбазки за расистко изказване. Коментирал произхода на свои колеги от транспортната комисия". 168 Часа. 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  27. ^ "Джамбазки се извини за расистките си коментари". bTV Новините. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  28. ^ "Джамбазки се извини на своите колеги, засегнати от изявлението му - България". dariknews.bg (in Bulgarian). 18 December 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  29. ^ Kingsley, Patrick; Dzhambazova, Boryana (2020-07-06). "Europe's Roma Already Faced Discrimination. The Pandemic Made It Worse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  30. ^ "Джамбазки: 200 души от Скопие не постигнаха целта си – да ни провокират". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  31. ^ 360степени (2021-03-29). "(ВИДЕО) Џамбаски од ВМРО со скандалозно обраќање: Македонија е бугарска, колку погласно лажете, толку пострашен ќе ви биде крајот". 360 степени (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ a b НМ (2021-06-20). "Џамбаски: Македонија е бугарска, од двете страни на границата Деве Баир живее една нација". Нова Македонија (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  33. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки: Македония е българска и гърците нямат основания за протести". Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  34. ^ "Джамбазки за шепата българи на преброяването в РС Македония: Поредната нагла фалшификация! - Политика - Новини Бг". Novini.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  35. ^ "Europarlamentare bulgaro fa il saluto fascista in Aula e insulta il collega Gozi. Metsola: "Inaccettabile, offende me e tutta l'Europa" - Video". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  36. ^ "MEP who appears to give Nazi salute in European Parliament faces sanctions procedure". POLITICO. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  37. ^ "Bulgarischer EU-Abgeordneter Angel Dzhambazki zeigt Hitlergruß". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 2022-02-17. ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  38. ^ "Какъв е Ангел Джамбазки отвъд политическия образ". News7. 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  39. ^ a b "Джамбазки: Нямам апартамент в Париж, а в "Редута"". Джамбазки: Нямам апартамент в Париж, а в „Редута“ - Политика - Стандарт Нюз. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  40. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки: Станах баща на дъщеря, но не искам това да се използва за предизборна кампания". bTV. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  41. ^ "Bulgarian MEP Angel Dzhambazki was Detained with Weapon at Sofia Airport - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  42. ^ "Задържаха оръжието на Ангел Джамбазки на Летище София". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  43. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки разкри, че е станал баща (ВИДЕО)". Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  44. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки хванат да кара пиян. Евродепутатът: Срам, беше малкият дявол". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  45. ^ "Хванаха Ангел Джамбазки да шофира с алкохол в кръвта". nova.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  46. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки е хванат да шофира пиян". www.economic.bg (in Bulgarian). 12 December 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  47. ^ "Бареков даде Джамбазки на главния прокурор". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  48. ^ "Джамбазки доброволец във ВМА. Разказва кошмари". standartnews.com. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
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