Fidias Panayiotou criticizes President Christodoulides over Cyprus problem handling

Following a National Council meeting on September 30, 2026, Fidias Panayiotou, leader of the Direct Democracy movement, directed sharp criticism at President Nikos Christodoulides regarding the lack of progress on the Cyprus problem. Panayiotou emphasized that 111 months have elapsed since the collapse of the Crans-Montana talks without any significant developments toward restarting negotiations, suggesting that the government’s touted success in foreign policy is not yielding the desired results on the national issue.

Panayiotou further questioned the effectiveness of President Christodoulides, citing his nearly decade-long tenure in high-ranking positions, including time as foreign minister, which he argues has not borne substantial fruit. During the meeting, Panayiotou also raised concerns about regional geostrategic risks, noting potential instability involving Iran, Israel, and Turkey. The criticism echoes concerns previously raised by other political figures, such as Averof Neofytou, regarding the prolonged stagnation of the peace process.