Italian President Sergio Mattarella was elected to a second term, Lower House Speaker Roberto Fico announced late Saturday, after the parliament gathered in a joint session and concluded its eighth round of voting.

Mattarella received 759 votes in favor from an assembly of "grand electors," which comprise all members of parliament plus 58 regional representatives.

Present to the latest ballot were 983 lawmakers.

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.

Prior to the election, Mattarella, 80, had made clear he would not agree on a second term.

The re-election of a head of state has been rare in Italy. So far, only Giorgio Napolitano, Mattarella's predecessor, had served a second term, and only for less than two years.

Mattarella has served as president since 2015, and the seven-year term officially ends on Feb. 3.

The pledging ceremony to reconfirm Mattarella in the post is expected to take place in the next days.

In Italy, the president is traditionally a ceremonial figure that represents national unity. However, the role becomes crucial in the case of major political impasses between the government and the parliament.

Therefore, the president is usually elected among figures with broad experience and deep knowledge of the constitution, and perceived by all political forces as non-partisan.