The DUP has confirmed Gavin Robinson as party leader at a meeting tonight.
Mr Robinson also announced that he was asking DUP voters in the Fermanagh South Tyrone constituency to back the Ulster Unionist Party’s (UUP) candidate in the marginal constituency.
He has been fulfilling the role of party leader on an interim basis since former leader Jeffrey Donaldson stood down in late March.
Mr Donaldson has been charged with sex offences which he denies.
Mr Robinson was endorsed as leader at a meeting of the party executive which is comprised of elected representatives and party officers.
Around 100 people attended the event.
In his speech, Mr Robinson said he will bring strong candidates to 16 of the 18 Northern Ireland constituencies.
He said that the DUP will not contest a seat in the North Down constituency, leaving the field clear for independent unionist Alex Easton to challenge the seat of Alliance MP Stephen Farry.
In the Fermanagh South Tyrone constituency, he said his preferred outcome would have been an agreed unionist candidate.
The UUP has already chosen a candidate, Dianne Armstrong, and has insisted it would not withdraw her.
In light of that decision and in the interests of trying to regain the seat for unionism, Mr Robinson said he was asking DUP voters in the constituency to support the UUP candidate.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin announced that former leading trade unionist Pat Cullen would seek the party’s nomination.
Sinn Féin currently holds the seat in this constituency which it secured by a margin of just 57 votes.
