Using Kids as Political Billboards: Fidias Crosses the Line
Using Kids as Political Billboards: Fidias Crosses the Line
There are some lines in politics that simply should not be crossed, and using children as unwitting pawns in political mobilisation is unequivocally one of them. Yet, this is precisely the ethical quagmire into which Member of the European Parliament Fidias Panayiotou has recently plunged, drawing a swift and necessary rebuke from the Children’s Rights Commissioner, Elena Pericleous.
The controversy ignited when Fidias, a politician, influencer, and YouTuber, published a video featuring children. The explicit purpose of this video was to rally the public to attend a protest he has organised against high energy prices. It's a move that, frankly, beggars belief, especially for someone now holding public office at a European level.
Children’s Rights Commissioner Elena Pericleous wasted no time in issuing a clear warning against the use of children as political props. Her concern wasn't merely a polite suggestion; she publicly raised the alarm and reportedly communicated directly with Fidias Panayiotou, expressing serious concern over how children’s participation was safeguarded in these videos. The Commissioner’s intervention underscores a fundamental principle: children are not tools to be deployed for political gain, no matter how noble the cause might seem to its orchestrator.
This isn't about the legitimacy of protesting high energy prices; that’s a separate debate entirely. This is about the ethical breach of involving minors in a political campaign in such a direct and public manner. Children, by their very nature, lack the full understanding of complex political issues, the implications of public protest, or the potential for their image to be used in ways they cannot foresee or consent to. To place them in a position where they are calling on adults to attend a political event is to exploit their innocence and vulnerability, effectively turning them into human billboards for an agenda that is not, and cannot truly be, their own.
Fidias Panayiotou, known mononymously as Fidias, emerged onto the political scene as a Member of the European Parliament for Cyprus in July 2024, after a career as a prominent social media personality and YouTuber. His ascent was largely viewed by young Cypriots as a protest vote against the traditional political establishment. While his unconventional approach may resonate with some, his history includes notable controversies, such as apologising for dodging train fares and a five-star hotel breakfast bill during a visit to Japan. These past actions, combined with this latest incident, paint a picture of an individual who frequently tests boundaries, seemingly without full regard for the underlying ethical implications.
Moreover, the very premise of the protest against high energy prices itself has faced scrutiny. An electricity systems expert has already countered Fidias's claims of a potential 20 per cent reduction in prices with a more modest calculation of just 1.8 per cent under his suggested price cap. This suggests that while Fidias is adept at mobilising public sentiment, the detailed understanding of the issues he rallies around may be superficial. To then involve children in the promotion of such potentially oversimplified or misrepresented claims is even more egregious.
The Commissioner’s warning serves as a vital reminder that regardless of political ambition or social media influence, certain ethical standards are non-negotiable, especially when it comes to the protection of minors. Children are not political props, and their involvement in such activities risks their wellbeing and undermines the very principles of child protection. For an MEP, a representative tasked with upholding European values, to so carelessly disregard this fundamental ethical boundary is not just crossing a line; it’s a concerning misstep that demands serious reflection and a prompt correction of course.