With the parliamentary elections of 2026 in the background, lately there has been an obvious shift in the social media strategy of many would-be parliamentarians, who are trying to "play" the image game more effectively.
In the public sphere, the projection of external appearance (or even a deliberately beautified presentation) does not function as a mere decorative act, but as a conscious strategic choice. So it reopens a debate that, as timeless as it is, remains uncomfortable: how tolerant are we really of diversity when we need to judge people and not abstract principles?
Although for decades the education system and the media have cultivated the ideal of acceptance, every now and then there are examples that challenge it. One of the most characteristic is visible racism, which is often amplified in pre-election environments. It is not at all rare that a portion of the electorate is attracted by a candidate's image or carefully crafted public presence, while another is almost automatically rejected because they do not "fit" the desired mold. This phenomenon, however much we try to brush it aside, reveals a sad distance between what we proclaim and what we actually do.
Appearance racism is a central axis of both my bilingual book entitled “Make a Mountain out of a Molehill” – “Kamneis ton Psyllon Kamelon” (Amazon, 2018), and of my related article, Social media incites us to make the flea Camelon, published in “Limassol Today” on 25/01/2025. My basic position remains the same: just as no book should EVER be judged by its cover but by its entire content, candidates should not be judged on appearance. What really matters is whether the positions they express are realistic, effective and beneficial for the country, as well as whether their track record so far demonstrates competence and consistency.
It is no coincidence that the phrase "only image and no substance" was once used for British Prime Minister Tony Blair during his time as Prime Minister (1997 – 2007). Although tough, it also seems to suit several modern candidates who are more invested in the packaging than the content.
At the end of the day, what should count in electoral contests is not the polished image but the authentic substance. Only on this can a healthy democracy stand, not on a superficial gloss that too often proves to be misleading.
Lysandros Lysandros*author
