MEP does Nazi salute while wearing Hitler-style moustache at Merkel debate

Gianluca Buonanno previously wore an Angela Merkel mask to a session

Italian Member of the European Parliament Gianluca Buonanno (L) wears a mask depicting German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he shakes hands with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg

The European Parliament has sanctioned an Italian lawmaker who wore a Hitler-style moustache and gave a Nazi salute at a debate with German leader Angela Merkel present,

The assembly said in a statement that it had fined Gianluca Buonanno 3,060 euros ($3,378) and suspended him from activities in parliament for 10 days. He is still allowed to vote.

During a plenary session two weeks ago, he wore a T-shirt with an image combining Adolf Hitler and Ms Merkel during.

Polish deputy Janusz Korwin-Mikke received the same sanction for using a Nazi salute in the assembly in July.

Mr Korwin-Mikke also referred to migrants as "human garbage."

The arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants in Europe this year has sparked an outcry among far-right politicians.

In September, Mr Buonanno, a representative from the Northern League party, shook hands with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker while wearing the mask of the German chancellor.

Mr Buonanno later claimed that Mr Juncker "does what Merkel says".

The stunt was thought to be a statement about the European Union's handling of the European refugee crisis.

The MEP had previously posted a picture of a man wearing a mask with the slogan 'Merkel: Syrian refugees for us. African migrants for Italy’.

Associated Press