By Hector Georgiou
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou and the government of President Nikos Christodoulides are once again in the political spotlight, facing criticism over their handling of the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. This marks the third time Panayiotou has come under fire, following earlier controversies over the country’s water crisis and the deadly Limassol fire in July 2025.
The recent outbreak has sparked alarm among farmers, with livestock owners openly criticizing both the veterinary services' decisions and Panayiotou herself. Opposition parties have joined the chorus, demanding the minister’s resignation.
Opposition ramps up attacks
Although attention briefly shifted away due to the conflict in Iran, the issue has reignited in recent days. Democratic Rally President Annita Dimitriou called the situation “dramatic and out of control” at a press conference, describing the government’s response as “a monument to failure and irresponsibility toward our farmers and the Cypriot economy.” Dimitriou urged Panayiotou to resign, saying, “When crisis management leads to such chaos, taking responsibility is not a choice; it’s an obligation. That means resignation. Patience has its limits.”
Earlier, in February, AKEL also demanded Panayiotou’s dismissal, citing government “inadequacy and carelessness” in preventing and managing the outbreak. A party statement described her resignation as “an act of elementary political integrity and service to the public interest.”
Other opposition parties have echoed the call. ALMA, led by Odysseas Michaelides, warned that keeping Panayiotou in office “only poses risks” and urged the president to remove her if she lacked the “sensitivity” to step down. The Green Party also described both the minister and the government as “irredeemably exposed,” adding that if the minister feels able to continue, the president has no choice but to act.
Government pushes back
Despite mounting pressure, the presidential palace has dismissed the calls, accusing opposition leaders of “baseless attacks” and political opportunism. A government statement emphasized that all required measures and EU protocols are being followed and accused Dimitriou of “exploiting a public health crisis for electoral gain.”
President Christodoulides also framed the criticism as part of a pre-election campaign, stating, “I have nothing to say about the statements of the Speaker of the House. I do not get involved in election campaigns; I focus on the substance of the issue.”
For now, despite intensifying concerns over foot-and-mouth disease, there are no indications that Panayiotou will be removed from office at least until the conclusion of Cyprus’ EU presidency at the end of June.
