JANUARY 30, 2025 — The Bulgarian nationalist party “Vazrazhdane” has submitted a bill to amend the Law on the State Seal and National Flag, aiming to prevent the flags of the European Union and NATO from being displayed on an equal footing with the Bulgarian national flag, the Bulgarian News Agency reports.
According to the party’s press release, the proposal calls for a legal provision ensuring that only the Bulgarian national flag is hoisted at Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions, in military units, and on naval vessels, in accordance with military regulations.
Vazrazhdane argues that placing the Bulgarian national flag alongside EU and NATO flags undermines national sovereignty.
“The Law on the State Seal and National Flag of the Republic of Bulgaria was promulgated in 1998 and does not prohibit the hoisting or placement of flags and symbols of international organizations to which the country belongs,” the party stated in its justification for the bill.
“However, in all state and municipal buildings, halls, and other official premises, the flags of two international organizations— the European Union and NATO— are displayed. The Bulgarian national flag has been downgraded to an equal status with symbols of non-state organizations,” the statement added.
The Bulgarian News Agency also says that the bill references international practices regarding flag display, citing U.S. regulations that prohibit placing any flag above or to the right of the U.S. national flag, except under specific circumstances.
According to Vazrazhdane, “it is evident from the abovementioned text that the prohibition against displaying any flag, pennant, or insignia of various organizations is imperative.”
Image: Alicia Fagerving, CC BY-SA 3.0