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In office again, smirk over application of current journalist (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reelected

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'in office again' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'smirk over application of current journalist' is the wordplay.
'smirk' becomes 'leer' (I've seen this in another clue).
'over' is a reversal indicator.
'application of current' becomes 'ect' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'leer' back-to-front is 'reel'.
'reel'+'ect'+'ed'='REELECTED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for reelected that I've seen is " Back in".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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