6 candidates vying for Israeli presidency

Six candidates have officially announced their nomination for Israeli presidency to replace current President Shimon Peres in the upcoming elections, slated for June 10. According to the Israeli radio, Knesset (Parliament) Member Reuven Rivlin (Likud) is the frontrunner in the race. He was followed by Labor's elder statesman and former defense minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer. The hopefuls also include former Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, MK Meir Sheetrit (Hatnua), former Supreme Court justice Dalia Dorner and Nobel Laureate Professor Dan Shechtman. Former minister David Levi's name was also suggested as an additional candidate and he has until midnight to file the paperwork. The race for the presidency is slated to take place on June 10th in an anonymous ballot among Knesset members. The post is largely a political ceremonial figurehead role, with the real executive power lying in the hands of the Prime Minister. The current president is Shimon Peres who took office on 15 July 2007. Presidents are elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term, and are limited to a single term. Source: KUNA