Mr David Ervine is poised to take over the leadership of the Progressive Unionist Party today.
The East Belfast Assembly member is due to take over as of the Ulster Volunteer Force-linked party following the decision by Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor, Mr Hugh Smyth, to stand down.
Mr Ervine (48) was a key figure in the moves towards the joint ceasefire in October 1994 by the loyalist paramilitary groups, the UVF and Ulster Defence Association.
As a senior member of the PUP's negotiating team, he played a key role in the talks leading to Belfast Agreement and was elected comfortably to serve East Belfast at Stormont in the 1998 Assembly elections with 5,114 first preference votes.
In recent years, Mr Ervine has been critical of the larger pro-agreement parties - most notably Sinn Fein - and the Irish and British governments over their handling of the peace process.
PA