The Pacific Islands Forum elects Henry Puna 9–8 over Micronesia’s candidate Gerald Zackios.

What happened

Micronesian leaders believed it was their subregion’s turn to lead the Forum Secretariat under an informal “gentlemen’s agreement” to rotate the post. Palau’s president had promised in 2020 to leave the Forum if Micronesia’s turn was not respected, and Micronesia’s candidate, Gerald Zackios, lost by one vote.