JERUSALEM: Israel’s Parliament on Tuesday elected Reuven Rivlin, a far-right member of the ruling Likud party, to be the nation’s 10th president when Shimon Peres steps down next month. The 74-year-old former parliamentary speaker will take over as head of state when Peres retires at the end of July.

A lawyer by profession, Rivlin has won widespread support from across the political spectrum for his determined defense of democracy and civil rights.

But his political outlook is diametrically opposed to that of Peres, being a firm opponent of a Palestinian state and a keen backer of the settlements.

And he will have a tough act to follow, with Peres’ charisma and global standing enabling him to transcend the largely ceremonial position of the presidency and use it to promote a political message of peace.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose bitter dislike of Rivlin made headlines in the weeks running up to the vote, offered Rivlin his congratulations.