Michael McCormack named Australia's new deputy prime minister

In Australia, Michael McCormack has been elected new Deputy Prime Minister after being selected as the leader of the country's National Party, the junior partner in the country's coalition government. 

McCormack replaces former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce who was forced to resign last week amid public anger over an extramarital affair with his former press



secretary.

The leader of the National Party automatically becomes deputy prime minister under the terms of the coalition agreement with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Liberal party.

Turnbull said the appointment of McCormack will ease pressure on the government that was left reeling after revelations of Joyce's affair, a scandal that threatened to fracture the government.