Disy MP Efthimios Diplaros on Sunday announced that he would not stand for re-election at the next parliamentary elections in 2026.

His party is set to introduce a new internal rule that its MPs can only serve three terms, and with Diplaros having first been elected in 2011, his third term will come to an end at the next election.

With this in mind, he said that even if Disy does amend the new rule to allow him to run, “with a heavy heart, I will not stand for election again”.

“I will, however, continue to stand by your side from the position of this great party’s deputy leader,” he said.

Diplaros is 44 years old, and entered politics at the age of just 26 when he was elected onto Limassol’s city council in 2006.

He became his party’s deputy leader last year, and currently serves as chairman of the House health committee.