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Attorney Christine Carla Kangaloo was on Friday elected as the 7th President of Trinidad and Tobago, succeeding the outgoing Head of State, Paula Mae Weekes.
Kangaloo, who resigned her position as Senate President earlier this week was nominated by the People’s National Movement (PNM) and easily defeated veteran Senior Counsel, Israel Khan, who had been nominated by the main opposition United National Congress (UNC).
The Electoral College, which is composed of all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate assembled together, took just over two and a half hours to vote in support of Kangaloo, by secret ballot.
The government has 38 votes in the College, while the opposition has 28. There are nine independent legislators. The Presiding officer also has a vote.
When the results were announced, Kangaloo received 48 votes, while Khan received 21 votes and there were three rejected ballots.
Kangaloo is the second woman to be elected to the position.
