Fidias Panayiotou, leader of the Direct Democracy party and a Member of the European Parliament, has publicly called for applications from police officers interested in serving as his personal security detail. In a social media video posted Tuesday, the 26-year-old emphasized his entitlement to police protection as a parliamentary party leader and invited qualified officers to apply directly to him.

Panayiotou’s approach, which suggests he would personally select his police escorts, deviates from the usual protocol where a special committee appointed by the police chief assigns security personnel. Typically, two officers are allocated per political leader, with adjustments made based on security risk assessments. A police source described Panayiotou’s method as "odd," especially given that he spends significant time abroad, raising questions about the role of his Cyprus-based guards.

Meanwhile, concerns about the assignment of police escorts to political figures have prompted the Audit Office to examine the procedures. Auditor-General Andreas Papaconstantinou noted the lack of a formalized system, describing the current arrangements as "a bit chaotic." The review comes amid broader scrutiny following complaints about continued police protection for former Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis.