Fidias Panayiotou marches to palace over soaring power bills
Supporters of the Direct Democracy Cyprus leader handed President Nikos Christodoulides a letter calling electricity and fuel basic necessities, as energy prices climbed 15 per cent in a year.
Protesters led by Direct Democracy Cyprus chief Fidias Panayiotou walked to the presidential palace on Saturday and delivered a petition to President Nikos Christodoulides urging that power and fuel be treated as essentials of daily life. As Cyprus Mail reports, the marchers framed their action as a nationwide push against the cost of electricity.
According to Cystat data cited in the letter, energy prices went up 15 per cent between August last year and August this year, while 1,000 kilowatt hours can reach €295 on a household bill. The document argues that a minimum-wage worker loses a large share of disposable income to power, rent, food and transport.
Among the demands are a permanent cut in VAT to five per cent and targeted subsidies drawn from emissions trading revenues — both of which would run against EU rules — alongside battery storage, transparency on tariffs and what the letter describes as gas and market reform.
What it means for residents
The petition channels widespread frustration, but several of its headline asks sit outside what Nicosia can lawfully do alone, so household bills are unlikely to fall soon because of this march.
- Watch your tariff, not the rhetoric. Compare offers and check whether you qualify for existing vulnerability schemes before winter demand peaks.
- Measure your use. With 1,000 kWh reaching €295, cutting heating, cooling and standby loads has a visible effect on the bill.
- Expect debate, not relief. VAT and ETS changes need Brussels-level decisions, so treat pledges of immediate cuts with caution.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
