The 26 freshly-elected Members of Parliament took part in a secret ballot, with results to be announced once the King signs off on the vote.
'Akilisi Pohiva, whose reign was shortened by the August dissolution of Parliament by the King, is up against his former deputy, Siaosi Sovaleni.
In the subsequent November election, Mr Pohiva's Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands won 14 seats, giving him a slight majority in the House.
