Nicosia, Cyprus. Independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou said on Friday he will run in the upcoming national parliamentary elections with his party, the recently renamed Direct Democracy of Cyprus. He said he will stand in the Nicosia district.
Announcement and campaign plans
Appearing on Sigma television wearing an army helmet, Panayiotou said his candidacy would reshape the political landscape. “I’ll let the other parties worry,” he said.
Dual mandate rules
Asked what would happen if he were elected while holding a seat in the European Parliament, Panayiotou said the decision would not be his alone and would be taken collectively by members and supporters of his party. “I will act according to their will,” he said.
Under EU and Cypriot law, a dual mandate is prohibited. Members of parliament cannot simultaneously serve as members of the European Parliament, a ban in force across the EU since 2009, and any MEP elected to the national parliament would be required to resign one of the two posts.
Social media confirmation
Panayiotou later confirmed his candidacy through his personal social media accounts, formalising his intention to enter the May contest.
What do you think about Panayiotou’s plan to run for parliament while currently serving as an MEP?
