France, July 10 -- The victory came less than two weeks after pro-France parties won the wealthy and most populous Southern Province in provincial elections held on 28 June.

In a vote on Friday, Virginie Ruffenach, of the Les Loyalistes and Le Rassemblement party, one of the hardline branches of the non-independence movement, was elected president of the Congress - the territory's elected assembly - securing 28 of the 54 votes.

Her opponent, Dominique Fochi, backed by the pro-independence bloc "Kanaky for All", got 26 votes.

The pro-France bloc initially held 24 seats in the assembly but a deal with the four lawmakers of the Eveil Oceanien (Oceanian Awakening) party enabled it to form a majority.

Ruffenach said the "governance" coalit...