The veteran Cook Islands politician, Norman George, has won the Atiu by- election.
Mr George, a long time maverick in Cook Islands politics, was ousted in the general election two years ago and subsequently became Speaker outside of Parliament.
While he contested the seat as an independent, he is understood to have aligned himself with the mostly opposition Cook Islands Party.
Parliament is to meet this week for the first time this year and there is talk of a vote of no confidence motion.
But one of the two CIP members who are in government, the Foreign Minister, Wilkie Rasmussen, says such a move will fail.
