Fredi Beleri has become the protagonist of an unpleasant and confusing situation in the European Parliament, where he was catapulted by the Greek government of Cyriakos Miçotaqis, after serving time in prison in Albania for vote theft.
Beleri has proposed the Cypriot YouTuber and MEP Phidias Panagiotou for the position of vice-chair of the newly created Special Committee of the European Parliament "Shield for European Democracy".
But the reason why he proposed Phidias specifically is what has caused confusion and controversy. Beleri said that he proposed Phidias for vice president because he is Greek.
"At today's meeting of the newly formed Special Committee of the European Parliament "Shield for European Democracy", the issue of filling the post of Vice-President was raised. There was no candidate from the European People's Party. I chose to support the independent Cypriot MP, Phidias Panayiotou, based solely on his Greek origin and nothing more. Mr. Arvaniti's complexes neither affect nor bother me", said Beleri.
At today's meeting of the newly created Special Committee of the European Parliament "Shield for the European Democracy" the topic of filling the position of the Vice-President was discussed. There was no candidate from the European People's Party. Επέλεξα να συντερξω τον κύπριος independent... pic.twitter.com/qN0L0vEBZl
— fredisbeleris (@fredisbeleris) February 3, 2025
However, Fredi Beleri's proposal has sparked reactions. For her part, Eliza Vozeberg, chairwoman of the Transport and Tourism Committee, explained in a relevant post that Beleri's proposal was a personal choice "and does not fit into the political line of the New Democracy Eurogroup."
The proposal of @fredisbeleris for Cyprus #ΦειδίαΠαναγιωτου is his personal choice and is not included in the political line of @neademokratia
— Eliza Vozemberg MEP (@vozemberg) February 4, 2025