Newsroom
Cypriot MEP and YouTube personality Fidias Panayiotou has published a long-awaited and hotly debated interview with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, a move that’s triggered intense backlash across the island's political spectrum.
Titled “The Leader of a State That Nobody Recognizes,” the podcast was filmed inside the so-called “presidential palace” of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a breakaway entity recognized only by Turkey. The interview, first teased weeks ago, had already stirred public outrage when it became known that Panayiotou had visited the occupied north and met Tatar in an official capacity.
Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis condemned the act, calling it “regrettable” that an elected MEP would “take actions exploited by the occupation regime to promote its unacceptable narrative.”
Tatar, for his part, publicly urged Panayiotou to publish the interview, despite the backlash. “Do not succumb to the threats,” he said, in what many viewed as a politically charged endorsement.
Watch the inteerview below:
Accusations from all sides
Mainstream political parties wasted no time issuing harsh statements. DIKO accused Panayiotou of becoming a “pawn” of Turkish diplomacy, claiming he was being used to spread Ankara’s positions on the Cyprus problem due to his “ignorance” and “naivety.”
EDEK went a step further, calling the MEP “indecent” and suggesting he should resign if he doesn’t understand the symbolic and political weight of his role. “No matter how much he pretends to be a journalist,” the party said, “he is an elected official of the Republic of Cyprus.”
Meanwhile, DIPA described the interview as a “huge political and institutional blunder,” arguing that it gives de facto recognition to the breakaway north. The far-right ELAM called the interview a betrayal, saying Panayiotou’s actions “humiliate the memory of our heroes and missing persons” and openly accused him of collaborating with Turkish propaganda.
Environmental Movement: Criticism is selective
The only measured response came from the Environmental Movement – Citizens' Cooperation party, which criticized both the interview and what it called “hypocritical indignation” from the political class. The movement defended its own record, pointing to its inclusion of a Turkish Cypriot MEP candidate and public advocacy on property rights issues.
“Instead of cheap communication reactions,” the party said, “let's see who is working in practice to defend democracy.”
Panayiotou defends himself
Panayiotou has not officially responded to the political attacks, but the video, now live on his podcast channel, speaks for itself. With a title that openly acknowledges the unrecognized status of the north, the interview walks a fine line between journalistic curiosity and political controversy.
Whether viewed as a bold move for dialogue or a serious diplomatic misstep, the interview has once again exposed deep divisions in Cyprus, not just between north and south, but within the Greek Cypriot political establishment itself.
