The governing Cook Islands Democratic Party has elected a new deputy leader, Foreign Affairs Minister Wilkie Rasmussen.
Mr Rasmussen, who was a member of the rival Cook Islands Party until just before last year's elections, takes over from Tepure Tapaitau, who is now the Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Mr Rasmussen has dismissed local rumours that he intends going back to the CIP.
He says he is committed to the government.
