TEL AVIV, June 13 (RIA Novosti) - Israeli parliamentarians are choosing a new seven-year president of the 60-year-old parliamentary republic Wednesday, with ex-premier Shimon Peres as one of the frontrunners.
In previous elections, Peres, 83, who led the government in 1984-86 and 1995-96, ran against Moshe Katsav, who unofficially withdrew from his presidential duties early this year following a rape scandal.
Peres, who will represent the ruling Kadima party, will be challenged by two members of parliament -- Reuven Rivlin of the center-right Likud party and Colette Avital of the Ha'avoda (Labor) party.
The winner of the elections must gain 61 votes in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament, in secret balloting. The procedure will start at 9 a.m. GMT, and the winner will be announced an hour after the voting is over.
