Petr Jedlička: Alvise, Colonel, Goddess of Body Shaming. The number of influencers in European politics is increasing

Monday, Jun 17, 2024

Examining how social media influencers and online personalities enter politics across Europe, citing examples from Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The text discusses the rise of social media influencers into high-level politics across different European countries. It highlights several examples: Luis “Alvise” Pérez, an influencer from Spain who transitioned from criticizing the center-left government during COVID-19 to embracing far-right views; Nikolaj Markov, known as Plukovník in Bulgaria, a former national security service officer whose anti-establishment and conspiracy theories gained him a following; Afrodita Latinopulová, a Greek MEP involved in cultural wars regarding body image and gender issues; and Fidias Panajotu from Cyprus, an influencer who achieved significant electoral success without traditional campaigning. The article notes that while some politicians effectively use social media, the direct entry of influencers into parliament is a distinct modern phenomenon.


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