site.btaDeputy Minister Resigns over Nazi Salute Picture

Deputy Minister Resigns over Nazi Salute Picture

Sofia, May 17 (BTA) - Deputy Regional Development Minister Pavel Tenev resigned Wednesday after an old photo of him doing the Nazi salute went public and caused an outrage. "I believe that the tension that was created works against the government and I asked to be relieved of office," he said in a statement.

Tenev was a nominee of the United Patriots, the junior partner in the government coalition, and more specifically of the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria of Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov.

The photo showing him with a raised hand between two wax figures of Nazis in the Grevin Museum in Paris nine years ago, was spotted in his Facebook profile but was taken down hours after he received the deputy minister's office.

He said he was sorry to see to see such "overreaction to a single photo" but thought nontheless than resigning was the best decision for him.

He also said that in the Grevin Museum he took photos of himself with "all kinds of celebrities" but admits the Hitler salute was a mistake. "Maybe it was not the right thing to do. It was meant as a mockery," said Tenev.

He was adamant that he is no supporter of the Nazi philosophy.

Shortly before Tenev announced his resignation, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) said it was outrageous that the deputy minister was not sacked immediately after his photo of nine years ago became public.

They said a person "who has the cynicism to take a snapshot of himself doing the Nazi salute, has no place in the Bulgarian government". They call it an outrage that the Prime Minister has done nothing about it and pretends that nothing has happened.

The Socialists pointed out that this has been the second nomination by the United Patriots showing Nazi leanings. In 2015, they nominated Ivo Antonov for deputy defence minister but were quick to withdraw the nomination when photos surfaced of him doing the Hitler salute.

BSP also called "cynical" Valeri Simeonov's attempt to excuse his appointee and call the photo "a joke". The Socialists are adamant that "there is no joke with the memory of the victims of Nazism" and that "there is no place in the government for a person who oversteps this moral line".

BSP threatened to take the matter to its European partners "so they know what kind of people sit in the Bulgarian government" and how they enjoy the protection of a political umbrella.