Alpha News

Outcry in Cyprus over Disparaging Comment about Paralympians

Published January 28, 2026, 10:32

A major outcry has erupted in Cyprus following a controversial comment by Cypriot MEP Fydias Panayiotou regarding Paralympians with intellectual disabilities. The comment was described as ableist and provoked strong reactions from society and the political world. Panayiotou later posted an apologetic video, but the Buongiorno show chose to comment on the incident and the way the MEP tried to justify himself. Andreas Mikroutsikos, during the show, made a sharp comment on the matter, without the exact statements being clarified in the provided text.