Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Momis confirmed as new President of Bougainville

Posted at 23:30 on 08 June, 2010 UTC

John Momis has been declared the new president of Papua New Guinea’s autonomous province of Bougainville.

Following the completion of vote counting after last month’s elections, PNG’s Electoral Commission has confirmed that Mr Momis won with around 50-thousand votes.

His nearest rival, the outgoing president James Tanis, secured 15,000 votes.

Mr Momis, who is a former Governor of Bougainville and one of the authors of PNG’s constitution, is expected to be sworn in next Tuesday, June 15th.