New Caledonia's government has elected Philippe Germain as the new president, ending a political crisis that erupted last year.
Mr Germain of the Caledonia Together Party was chosen just hours after the French High Commission convened a meeting of the 11-member government.
Philippe Germain and Cynthia Ligeard Photo: THEO ROUBY / AFP
This followed a decision by the pro-independence side to choose one of the candidates of the rival anti-independence camp in order to re-install a properly constituted government.
Mr Germain replaces Cynthia Ligeard of the Front for Unity, whose tenure ended in December only six months into a five-year term when her government collapsed amid disagreements within the anti-independence camp.
She stayed on as a caretaker president and sought re-election.
The government chose Jean-Louis d'Angleberme of the pro-independence Caledonian Union as new vice president.
Under a power-sharing deal that ended with the collapse of the Ligeard-led government, the presidency was to be held by the Front For Unity.
The Caledonia Together Party was given the presidency of the southern province.