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Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tom Marshall is shown on May 26, 2014.ANDREW VAUGHAN/The Canadian Press

Premier Tom Marshall of Newfoundland and Labrador thanked his colleagues and packed up his office Friday as he prepares to retire from the top job.

Now all that's left this weekend is to choose his successor.

Progressive Conservatives are gathering in St. John's to select their next leader and the province's 12th premier.

Three former cabinet ministers are running for the leadership: Paul Davis, Steve Kent and John Ottenheimer.

Marshall took over as premier on an interim basis after Kathy Dunderdale quit in January and stayed on through the party's first aborted leadership process that saw three candidates withdraw.

Marshall poked fun at the Tories' leadership struggles during a lighthearted speech Friday at the Confederation Building, saying he had just heard some breaking news on the radio that the three latest candidates had also pulled out, a joke that earned a roar of laughter and applause.

He also thanked public servants for their hard work during his time in government.

"One thing I learned when I came here is the good people, the strong professional people that we have here," he said.

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