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Sat, Jan 17, 2026 | Rajab 28, 1447 | Fajr 05:45 | DXB 
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UAE: What happens when YouTubers enter Parliament? Creator predicts new political era
Fidias Panayiotou, newly elected MEP, said his rise reflects the disillusionment many young voters feel with traditional politics and believes today's democratic institutions must adapt
When a 25-year-old social-media creator walked into the halls of the European Parliament and argued, it signalled a transformation of politics itself, from formal institutions to direct representation. That was the message from Fidias Panayiotou at the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi, where he discussed what happens "when creators become policymakers".
Panayiotou, elected as an independent MEP in 2024, said his rise reflects the disillusionment many young voters feel with traditional politics. “I felt we do not really control anything. It is always the same parties. So I decided to be the change I wanted to see.”
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According to him, today's democratic institutions must adapt, offering more direct and transparent ways for citizens to shape decisions. His own model, he said, attempts to do that: in Cyprus, anybody can apply through an app to be a candidate, and votes in the app decide representation. For him, this kind of “direct democracy” is a response to widespread distrust in established parties.
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“With just a phone, now you can make content and reach millions of people,” he told the audience. “I translated what I learned on YouTube into politics.”
Panayiotou said, “When people lost faith in the system, I decided to be the change." He admitted he did not vote until his own candidacy and urged younger generations to recognise that change can come from outside the traditional mould.
Moderator Ted Kemp, Chief Content Officer, framed the shift as part of a larger trend. Across Europe, a new generation of politicians is emerging from social media, ready to bypass conventional party structures. Panayiotou’s election reflects that shift.
Critics may call him a novelty, but analysts note his success is not unique. The 2024 European Parliament elections featured several newcomers with large online followings, a sign that digital influence is quickly becoming a new form of political capital.
At Bridge Summit, Panayiotou predicted that many more creators would become policymakers. He said youth demand for alternative representation and political transparency could reshape legislative norms across Europe and beyond.
Waad Barakat
Waad Barakat is a Special Correspondent covering security topics, from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to blend it all with unique Gen Z-inspired content.
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