Georgia's parliament elected a woman to the ex-Soviet republic's No. 2 post for the first time in its history.
Nino Burdzhanadze, 37, became parliamentary speaker after two rounds of voting that had been marred by suspected dirty dealings.
Under the current constitution, if the president dies or resigns, the speaker automatically takes over.
But President Eduard A. Shevardnadze, who sacked his government Nov. 1, has said he will create the post of prime minister.
