Brussels - The Captain, the Influencer and the Rider: the Newcomers in the EU Parliament
In the European Parliament, there are not only professional politicians: When the newly elected Parliament comes together for its first session after the European elections this week, a former German captain, a Bulgarian rapper, and a Cyprus influencer will also travel to Strasbourg. Here's a look at some of the newcomers without a classical political career:
Austria's Climate Activist Lena Schilling
Lena Schilling is known as the face of the Austrian climate movement. For more than a year, she and a group of activists camped at a tunnel construction site to prevent the construction of the Lobau Autobahn Tunnel near Vienna. Schilling is considered more radical than the Greens, for whom she is now elected to the European Parliament. In Austria, she came under pressure due to alleged false statements about an affair with a well-known television journalist.
The Antifascist Activist Ilaria Salis
The Italian Ilaria Salis was released from house arrest and elected to the European Parliament. She was arrested in Budapest in 2023 for participating in protests against a Neo-Nazi rally. She was in pre-trial detention for over a year due to alleged assault on a right-wing extremist. Her case made headlines when she appeared in court in handcuffs, leg irons, and a chain. After her election for the left-green alliance AVS, Salis was released and now enjoys immunity.
Influencer Fidias Panayiotou from Cyprus
Fidias Panayiotou usually makes videos for TikTok and YouTube, where he films himself driving a black car in Japan or stalking US billionaire Elon Musk for a hug. According to his own statement, the 24-year-old has little knowledge of politics, but he now publishes explanation videos about the European Parliament. He lets his followers on the net vote on which faction he sits in or if he supports Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President.
Sea-Watch Captain Carola Rackete
The second most prominent German newcomer in the European Parliament is Carola Rackete, captain of the Sea-Watch rescue ship. In 2019, she docked the ship without permission at the Italian island of Lampedusa to bring 53 migrants rescued from the Mediterranean to safety and provide them with medical care. Rackete referred to the right of rescue, and her house arrest was lifted.
Irish TV Personality Nina Carberry
Nina Carberry, an Irishwoman, had little to do with politics until now. She can claim over 400 wins as a jockey in horse racing in Ireland. In Ireland, she is known from shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "Ireland's Fittest Family." In the European Parliament, she sits for the Fine Gael party in the European People's Party (EPP) fraction.
- Despite being a Cyprus influencer with a focus on TikTok and YouTube, Fidias Panayiotou has recently started creating explanation videos about the European Parliament for his followers, allowing them to vote on his political alignment and preferences.
- Following her release from house arrest, Italian antifascist activist Ilaria Salis was elected to the European Parliament, representing the left-green alliance AVS, a move that granted her immunity.
- The newly elected European Parliament will also include Captain Carola Rackete from Germany, known for docking the Sea-Watch rescue ship without permission at Lampedusa in 2019 to provide medical care to 53 migrants rescued from the Mediterranean.
- Austrian climate activist Lena Schilling, a known figure in the Austrian climate movement, was elected to the European Parliament along with the Greens, despite facing pressure due to alleged false statements about an affair with a popular television journalist.
- Following a successful careers in horse racing and television shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "Ireland's Fittest Family," Irish TV personality Nina Carberry will now represent the Fine Gael party in the European People's Party (EPP) fraction in the European Parliament.
- As the newly elected European Parliament convenes for its first session, notable additions include Bulgarian rapper, Austrian climate activist, Italian antifascist activist, Cyprus influencer, German Sea-Watch captain, and Irish TV personality, demonstrating the diverse backgrounds and interests among the representatives.
