On Sunday, 22 May, Cyprus will hold parliamentary elections. The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Joseph Daul, expressed his support and wished EPP member party the Democratic Rally of Cyprus (DISY) and its leader, Averof Neofytou, a solid electoral victory. President Daul was in Cyprus last week to campaign together with President Neofytou. “Over the course of three years, the DISY government, led by President Nicos Anastasiades, has exceeded expectations and brought remarkable economic recovery and growth to the country. The economy grew by 2,7% in the first quarter of 2016 in comparison to the first quarter of 2015, unemployment  dropped 4 percentage points from 16.2% to 12.2% in the last year, more jobs have been created and more people benefit from the growing economy. Cyprus has become a success story of determination, political vision and responsible financial management. The Cypriot people, who have worked hard and suffered uncertainties over the country’s economic future, should be proud of their achievements”, said EPP President Daul. “Only a strong parliament can provide the necessary support to the government in ensuring the continuation of effective reforms. The mistakes from the past should not be repeated. The populistic approach taken by the previous government left Cypriots dangerously teetering on the edge of an economic abyss. The DISY leadership turned the page, made hard but necessary choices and delivered significant results. It is now the time to make sure that the sacrifices made by the Cypriots will not be in vain”, said the EPP President. “Economic stability should go hand-in-hand with the security of the island. I praise President Anastasiades’ commitment to finding a lasting, viable and functional solution to the Cyprus Question. A united island would serve as a model for peaceful coexistence and send a positive message to the region of the Eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, a solution would further boost the economy and bring prosperity to the people”, said President Daul. “It is also very important to address the issue of visa liberation for Turkey. Our position on this matter is very clear: visa liberalisation will not come into force without Turkey’s meeting all 72 criteria. We must respect and protect the interests of all EU Member States, and especially Cyprus”, said President Daul. “The DISY government, together with the courage and support of the Cypriot people, has put the country back on track and made Cyprus an example for the rest of Europe. On behalf of the EPP family, I wish the very best of luck to the Democratic Rally of Cyprus and to its President, Averof Neofytou. A vote for DISY is a vote to continue the reforms necessary in order to further reduce unemployment and bring stability, security and prosperity to all the Cypriot people”, concluded the EPP President.