Fidias Panayiotou MEP: I Hate Politics – But It Was Right

Viral Cypriot YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou MEP shocked many by winning a seat in the European Parliament as an independent. With over 2.7 million subscribers, he turned online fame into political power. Yet, Panayiotou MEP admits to having a deep distrust of the system. In a candid Ouzo Talk Podcast episode, he declared, “I hate politics.” No leader inspired him. Governments, he argues, ignore public interests.

Therefore, he acted. Panayiotou started with a fun video about running for office. Deep down, conviction drove him. “If I am not doing something to change it, why expect others to?” he asked. This mindset propelled his 2024 campaign. He leveraged YouTube analytics to gauge Cypriot views on key issues, such as corruption and immigration.

How to Legally Force the EU to Listen to You pic.twitter.com/JeOHNu9oaA

— Fidias Panayiotou (@Fidias0) March 4, 2025

How Fidias Panayiotou MEP Revolutionized Campaigning

Panayiotou ditched traditional polls. Instead, he uploaded videos and scanned comments for real-time feedback. “Let's focus on the things that actually work,” he told podcast hosts Tom Skolarikis and Nick Athanassiou. Anti-corruption content resonated strongly. Immigration stances, however, polarized audiences.

Moreover, his approach drew millions of views. As a non-attached MEP, Fidias Panayiotou MEP now pushes reforms in Brussels. Recent activities have included questioning EU aid imbalances—why more aid for Ukraine than for Cyprus? He is also eyeing the formation of a new parliamentary group to gain greater influence.

Controversies and Bold Diplomacy

Controversy follows Mr Panayiotou. In May 2025, he visited Moscow amid heightened tensions with Ukraine, meeting officials to promote dialogue. Critics slammed the timing near Russia's Victory Day. Fidias Panayiotou MEP defended it: “We reach peace by talking and finding compromises.” This diplomacy echoes his focus on Cyprus, where he navigates the island's division.

Additionally, Archbishop Georgios accused him of Turkish influence. Yet, Mr Panayiotou persists. On X, he recently posted about fixing democracy's flaws and Trump's Gaza plan. His style blends entertainment with advocacy.

Who is Fidias Panayiotou

Fidias Panayiotou, commonly known as Fidias, is a Cypriot YouTuber, influencer, prankster, and politician who serves as an independent Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing Cyprus. Born on April 10, 2000, in Meniko, Nicosia District, to an ethnic Greek family, he grew up in Cyprus and completed mandatory military service in the Cypriot Underwater Demolition Team. He is engaged to Styliana Averkiou and has amassed a massive online following through bold, often-controversial content.

Rise as a YouTuber and Influencer

Fidias launched his YouTube channel in 2019, quickly gaining traction with prank videos, travel challenges, and interactions with celebrities. By January 2025, his main channel (@FidiasPanayiotou) had amassed over 2.7 million subscribers and garnered 673 million views, earning him YouTube's Gold Play Button in 2022 for reaching 1 million subscribers. Highlights include a 2022-2023 "hug mission" where he aimed to embrace 100 celebrities, culminating in successfully hugging Elon Musk in January 2023 after 99 others. He also hosted interviews on his "Fidias Podcast" with high-profile guests, including Nigel Farage, Nas Daily, and Andrew Tate, and covered Cyprus's 2023 presidential election by interviewing 12 of the 14 candidates.

His style often pushed boundaries: A September 2023 video of freeriding on India's Bengaluru Metro sparked a threat of a criminal complaint, while a 2023 travel video in Japan, involving fare evasion and begging, led YouTube to remove it and others for guideline violations. Fidias has described himself as a "professional mistake maker," a persona that endeared him to fans but drew criticism for recklessness.