YouTuber Famous for Viral Pranks Gains Victory in European Elections 2024
Fidias Panayiotou, a 24-year-old Cypriot born in the village of Meniko, has made a surprising entrance into the world of politics. Known primarily as a popular YouTuber and influencer, Panayiotou stunned the political landscape by winning a seat as an independent Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in the 2024 European Parliament elections.
Panayiotou's journey to the European Parliament was far from conventional. Before his election, he was best known for his viral pranks and survival challenges on YouTube, having amassed over 2.7 million subscribers and 663 million views since 2019. His political career began in earnest when he ran as an independent candidate, finishing ahead of many traditional parties and the far-right party in the EU parliament elections in Cyprus.
Despite his lack of formal political experience, Panayiotou's campaign resonated with voters. His victory was seen as a rejection of the political status quo and traditional parties in Cyprus, with many viewing it as a call for change. Panayiotou himself admitted that he wasn't sure how the European Parliament worked, but his goal was not to get elected, but to motivate young people to get involved in politics.
Panayiotou's election was not without controversy. His travel across India and Japan, which some critics labelled as poverty or slum tourism, received backlash from netizens, with accusations that he was exploiting the suffering of the poor. However, it seems that this did not affect his electability to his followers.
The European election in Cyprus was expected to see high levels of voter absenteeism. Yet, Panayiotou garnered 19.4 per cent of the vote, securing a seat. His victory has been hailed as a sign that the traditional political parties in Cyprus may need to reconsider their approach to engaging with younger voters.
As an independent MEP, Panayiotou's impact on the European Parliament remains to be seen. However, his unconventional path to politics has certainly shaken up the status quo and raised questions about the role of social media influencers in modern politics.
[1] Source: BBC News [3] Source: Cyprus Mail [5] Source: Politico Europe
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