Fidias Panayiotou criticizes government performance on the Cyprus problem

Following a recent session of the National Council, Fidias Panayiotou, leader of the Direct Democracy movement, publicly criticized President Nikos Christodoulides for a lack of progress in resolving the Cyprus problem. Panayiotou claimed that during his combined tenure as Foreign Minister and President, Christodoulides has failed to initiate meaningful negotiations. He noted that 111 months—or 3,378 days—have passed since the collapse of the Crans-Montana talks on July 6, 2017, without any resumption of dialogue.

Local media reports characterized Panayiotou’s statements as lacking depth, suggesting he was repeating positions held by other political figures, specifically comparing his rhetoric to that of former DISY leader Averof Neofytou. Critics accused Panayiotou of focusing on internal blame rather than the role of the occupying power, Turkey, in the ongoing stalemate. While Panayiotou insists the current political approach is ineffective, his commentary has sparked a broader debate regarding the preparedness and political experience of new leaders engaging with the National Council.