Nicosia, Cyprus. Kysoa president Themis Anthopoulou criticised the use of the term “loonies” to describe people with mental disabilities, calling it a “rotten perception” and “unthinkable” for an MEP to use.
Criticism of remarks made in a podcast
Anthopoulou was referring to comments by member of the European Parliament and social media influencer Fidias Panayiotou, who said during a podcast that people with intellectual disabilities were “loonies.” She told the Cyprus News Agency it was “unthinkable that an MEP would use racist language.”
References to past treatment of people with disabilities
Anthopoulou said the remarks reflected “very distant times when people with intellectual disabilities were regarded as problematic” and were “locked in their homes because it was a disgrace to have such people in your family.” She added: “We are not living at the beginning of the previous century, nor at its end, we are not living in an apartheid regime, we are not living in the dark ages.”
Rejection of claims it was a mistake
Anthopoulou dismissed the idea that the remarks were “a mistake,” saying, “The view that people with mental disabilities are ‘loonies’ cannot be a simple mistake,” and questioned how Panayiotou could represent Cyprus at the European Parliament.
Response to age-related explanations
Anthopoulou said Kysoa did not accept the excuse that Panayiotou “is young and will learn,” noting that he is 25. “We are not talking about a child at nursery school. We are talking about an adult who is involved in politics on the benches of the European Parliament,” she said.
Distinction between a view and a slip of the tongue
Anthopoulou reiterated that the remarks were not accidental. “It is not a mistake, it is his view and he voiced it in mirth while eating a salad. It was not a slip of the tongue. Let us not confuse the two,” she said.
How do you think elected representatives should be held accountable for language used about people with disabilities?