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“Did he call me a fool?”: Reaction to Fydias’s ‘Apology’ Sparks Outrage

Published January 28, 2026, 12:14
“Did he call me a fool?”: Reaction to Fydias’s ‘Apology’ Sparks Outrage

The alleged apology of MEP Fydias Panayiotou for his unacceptable remarks towards people with intellectual disabilities has sparked strong reactions. The President of KYSOA, Themis Anthopoulou, criticized the way the MEP presented his apology, believing that he sought to exploit the exposure of the para-athlete Marios Filippou to improve his image. Ms. Anthopoulou stated that Filippou asked his mother if Fydias had called him a “fool”, describing the fact as outrageous. Furthermore, she emphasized that the MEP did not contact the para-athlete directly to apologize. The President of KYSOA also questioned the possible political motives behind the insult to people with disabilities.