Cypriot YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou to Keep European Parliament Seat After Winning National Election

Cypriot YouTuber and TikToker Fidias Panayiotou said Monday he will keep his European Parliament seat after his party won four seats in Cyprus' House of Representatives. “I’ll stay in the European Parliament because it would be good for the Direct Democracy party to have a European Parliament member,” Fidias told reporters before a proclamation ceremony.

4 percent of the vote in Sunday’s election and secured four of the 56 seats in the House. Fidias, who received the most votes among his party’s candidates, gave his seat to runner-up Yiannis Laouris.

Fidias founded the Direct Democracy party six months ago. The party allows citizens to shape policy and run as candidates through an online application. He first won a European Parliament seat in June 2024 without presenting policy positions or a program.

Nearly one in five voters supported him in that election. Fidias built his following through online videos that included spending cash in Vietnam, living in an airport for a week, and burying himself alive for ten days. He also gained attention after obtaining a hug from entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The ultranationalist National Popular Front, or ELAM, increased its share to nearly 11 percent and won eight seats, up from just under 7 percent and four seats in the previous election. Fidias has used social media to share his European Parliament activities and voting rationale while responding to critics who question his political experience.