Nikos Tornaritis addresses violence against politicians at the Council of Europe

During the second part of the 2026 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Cypriot MP and Assembly Vice-President Nikos Tornaritis addressed the rise of violence against political figures. He highlighted that politicians increasingly face physical attacks, harassment, and intimidation, with such targeting often extending to their families. Tornaritis emphasized the prevalence of online bullying, the spread of fake news, and hate speech in the digital era, noting that legal prosecution for such acts remains rare. He argued that these trends undermine democratic institutions and have a significant socio-political impact. To address these systemic threats, the MP proposed the implementation of comprehensive prevention, awareness-raising, and victim support initiatives. Furthermore, he recommended the establishment of monitoring mechanisms to facilitate better international cooperation and data exchange regarding the security and freedom of elected officials. Finally, he stressed the critical importance of maintaining accountability and transparency in public life to preserve democratic integrity.