Two Political Outsiders Win European Parliament

A Cypriot YouTuber and a Spanish far-right figure leveraged video platforms to disrupt traditional politics.

Fidias Panayiotou, a popular Cypriot YouTuber, won a seat without any political experience or party support.
Alvise Perez, a Spanish far-right figure, secured three seats by railing against immigration and political corruption.
Both candidates used platforms like TikTok and Instagram to connect with young, disenchanted voters.
Their victories reflect a broader trend of using social media to bypass traditional political systems.
Experts compare their rise to the digital subcultures that supported figures like Donald Trump and Javier Milei.