Public disagreement over phone calls between President Christodoulides and Fidias Panayiotou

On August 3, 2026, President Nikos Christodoulides and Member of the European Parliament Fidias Panayiotou engaged in a publicized disagreement during a meeting of the National Council. The tension arose shortly before the session commenced, with cameras capturing the two men discussing a previous claim made by Panayiotou.

Previously, in a podcast and video released by his party, 'Amesi Dimokratia,' Panayiotou stated that he had received eight missed calls from the President while he was visiting Brazil. During the brief exchange recorded at the National Council, President Christodoulides challenged the accuracy of this claim. In response, Panayiotou adjusted his account, asserting that there were seven missed calls rather than eight. The President retorted that he was well aware of the exact number of times he had attempted to reach the MEP.

This incident highlights a communication friction between the two public figures, occurring in the context of Panayiotou attending the National Council to represent his political party. No further investigative actions or official consequences regarding this verbal exchange have been announced by either party.