Christian Allard is to be nominated as co-leader of Aberdeen City Council after winning a vote to lead the city’s SNP group.
The Torry and Ferryhill councillor is to replace Alex Nicoll, who announced at the weekend that he would step down.
Aberdeen SNP members met last night for their AGM.
The Press & Journal says they unanimously voted Mr Allard as their new group leader, within a month of the 59-year-old surviving a confidence vote in his current council job.
The former MSP and MEP resisted calls to quit as anti-poverty convener as he was accused of having “more faces than the Town House clock”.
He prompted fury in March by backing funding cuts for the Big Noise Torry project, aimed at helping kids in the most deprived parts of his ward.
Uncontested
But he stood uncontested last night to be named co-leader elect.
The French-born councillor will not be council co-leader until his nomination is confirmed by councillors.
A “delighted” Mr Allard said: “As we face the many difficult challenges ahead, I will remain focused on what I believe are the greatest of these - tackling poverty and establishing our city as a world leader in the fight against climate change.
“I am determined to build a more prosperous and fairer future for everyone in our city, and to make Aberdeen a better place to live, work and grow up.”
He also thanked Mr Nicoll for the “firm foundation” he was leaving behind.
The outgoing co-leader will continue in the top job until an urgent business meeting, expected next week.
Surprise exit
The surprise exit of Mr Nicoll happened after the local authority came under intense pressure over its controversial cost-cutting plans.
But he insisted he had simply decided now was the best time for him to step back due to the time-consuming demands of the role.
Mr Nicoll said he had taken time to reflect on his position as he gets older after turning 65 last week - and he felt now was the best time to hand over the reins.
He said the role had been "a real honour" - and he planned to continue as a city councillor.
Mr Nicoll was first elected to the council in October 2015.
It emerged last week that a fight against the closure of libraries and a swimming pool in Aberdeen has been launched in court.
Petition
A petition has been lodged with the Court of Session in Edinburgh for a judicial review of the council’s decision to close Bucksburn pool and Woodside library.
Similar action could follow to reverse the fates of other libraries at Cornhill, Cults, Ferryhill, Kaimhill and Northfield.
There have been protests across Aberdeen at last month’s closures, following the first budget passed since the SNP and Lib Dems took charge at the Town House.