On July 24, 2026, the leader of the Direct Democracy party, Fidias Panayiotou, did not attend a meeting of the National Council in Cyprus. In a video released prior to the meeting, the MEP and influencer explained that he lacks the necessary expertise to advise President Nikos Christodoulides on the complex Cyprus issue, especially ahead of a scheduled visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Panayiotou appointed businessman and economist Mike Spanos to represent the party in his stead. While initial reports questioned Spanos's eligibility as he is not a party official, it was subsequently clarified that Spanos is a registered member of the Direct Democracy party via its mobile application, satisfying the institutional requirement for such representation. The President’s office had been notified of the arrangement in writing on the preceding Tuesday, although a later attempt by President Christodoulides to reach Panayiotou via multiple phone calls while the MEP was in Brazil caused further discussion.

This decision prompted criticism from various figures, including lawyer Chris Triantafyllides and MEP Costas Mavrides, who suggested the incident highlights a need to review the functionality and representation standards of the National Council. Government sources maintained that the council's role remains strictly advisory, allowing parties to be represented by any registered member.