Newsroom
A storm of political backlash and public outrage has erupted around Cypriot MEP and YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou, after news broke of his planned interview with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.
Panayiotou, known for his unconventional style and massive online following, reportedly visited the so-called "presidential palace" in the occupied north for a sit-down interview with Tatar, a move that has been slammed by political parties and triggered a firestorm on social media.
The Democratic Party (DIKO) didn’t mince words, accusing Panayiotou of acting as “a pawn and tool of Turkish diplomacy and the Turkish media.” In a sharply worded statement, DIKO claimed the MEP’s actions have, since his election, repeatedly given ammunition to Ankara's narrative on the Cyprus issue.
“He is either unaware of the damage he’s doing, or worse, is choosing to ignore it,” the party said, warning that his actions are being weaponized by the breakaway state to legitimize their positions and undermine the Republic of Cyprus.
EDEK: "He should resign"
The Social Democrats (EDEK) were even more scathing, calling Panayiotou’s actions “consciously indecent” and an insult to the thousands of Cypriots who lost their homes and loved ones in the 1974 Turkish invasion.
“Claiming ignorance is not an excuse. He cannot not know,” the party said in a strongly emotional statement. “He stepped on ground watered with blood, and chose to showcase the voice of the occupier.”
EDEK even went so far as to suggest that if Panayiotou doesn’t understand the responsibilities of a Member of the European Parliament representing the Republic of Cyprus, he should “do the country a service and resign.”
A podcast that sparked a firestorm
The uproar was triggered when Turkish Cypriot influencer "Urban Cypriot" shared footage of the meeting online. The post sparked immediate backlash, especially given Panayiotou’s past collaborations with the influencer.
While details of the podcast episode have yet to be released, the very idea of an interview with Tatar, who represents an entity not recognized by the Republic of Cyprus or the international community, has struck a nerve across the political spectrum.
Panayiotou has not publicly responded to the criticism, but calls for accountability continue to mount.
