ROME, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella was elected to a second term by the parliament gathered in a joint session in the eighth round of voting on Saturday.
Mattarella received 759 votes in favor from an assembly of 1,009 "grand electors," which comprise all members of parliament plus 58 regional representatives.
His candidacy emerged prominently at the end of a tense week in which the two major political blocs -- the center-left and the center-right -- failed to agree on a different common candidature.
As a consequence, seven rounds of voting were held since Monday, all delivering inconclusive results.
After the leaders of the largest parties from both coalitions acknowledged the stalemate on Saturday morning, and agreed on Mattarella's possible second term, a direct request was submitted to the president by all parties' whips.
After speaking also with Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Mattarella made himself available.
Mattarella, 80, has served as president since 2015, and the seven-year term officially ends on Feb. 3. ■
