Israel to elect new president on June 10

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein announced on Monday that the elections for president will be held on June 10, The Jerusalem Post reported.

In his meetings with candidates over the past week, Edelstein told them the race would be held on a Tuesday or Wednesday in mid-June, which they took to mean June 17 or 18. Candidates asked for the race to be held as late as possible to give them more time to receive endorsements from MKs.

By law, the Knesset speaker has to announce the date at least three weeks before the race. Candidates need to announce their candidacy and submit the signatures of 10 MKs who support them two weeks before the race. MKs can sign for only one candidate.

The only candidates who have so far obtained the 10 endorsements necessary to run are Likud MK Reuven Rivlin, who lost to Peres seven years ago, Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Hatnua faction chairman Meir Sheetrit.