Reuven Rivlin is Israel’s new President

Israel’s parliament has chosen Reuven Rivlin, a stalwart in the ruling Likud Party, as the country’s next president.

Policy makers chose the former parliament speaker and cabinet minister in a secret run-off ballot against long-time legislator Meir Sheetrit, by 63 votes to 53.

Mr Rivlin faces the difficult task of succeeding Shimon Peres, a Nobel peace laureate who brought the position international prestige.

The job of the presidency is largely ceremonial, but Mr Rivlin’s political views could prove tricky.

He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state, putting him at odds with the international community and even his own prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Rivlin, 74, has been a supporter of Jewish settlements in occupied lands claimed by the Palestinians and proposed a special union with the Palestinians in which Jews and Arabs would hold common citizenship but vote for separate parliaments.

The president is meant to serve as a unifying figure and moral compass for the country, and Mr Rivlin has said that in contrast to Mr Peres, he would focus on domestic affairs if selected.

“I think the people’s will was manifested,” Mr Rivlin said after the vote. He dismissed speculation that he might be upset at Mr Netanyahu, who tried to block his candidacy, saying he was “not angry at anyone”.

Three other candidates were eliminated in a first round of voting in the 120-member parliament earlier in the day.

Mr Rivlin will have big shoes to fill after Mr Peres, 90, steps down. Mr Peres, whose political career stretches back decades and who has been an outspoken proponent of peace with the Palestinians, restored honour to the position, which was tarnished after his predecessor, Moshe Katsav, was forced to step down by a sex scandal. Mr Katsav is in prison after being convicted of rape.

The vote capped a nasty presidential campaign that saw mudslinging, political intrigue and scandals that forced two hopefuls out of the running.

Mr Netanyahu’s public standing has also taken a hit during the campaign due to his attempts to shape the race and block Mr Rivlin’s candidacy. They are long-time rivals in the Likud.

While most political power is held by the prime minister, the president plays several key roles in Israel.

Most critically, the president chooses a member of parliament, or Knesset, to form a majority coalition after elections. This has usually been the leader of the party with the most seats in parliament, but with a rise of a number of mid-size parties in parliament, the next president could theoretically have more influence over choosing the country’s prime minister.

The other candidates included Dalia Dorner, a former Supreme Court judge. Ex-parliamentary speaker Dalia Itzik and Nobel prize in chemistry winner Dan Shechtman also vied for the job.