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

Mattarella was reconfirmed with a broad majority, with 759 votes in favor from a total of 983 lawmakers and regional representatives that took part in the ballot.

"I wish to thank lawmakers and regional representatives for the faith they have put in me," Mattarella, 80, said in a declaration broadcast live from the Quirinale presidential palace immediately after receiving the official notice of his re-election.

"The difficult days of this election, taking place during the serious health, economic and social emergency we are still going through, call for a sense of responsibility and for the respect of the parliament's decisions," he said.

(Cover: Re-elected Italian President Sergio Mattarella makes a statement on the outcome of the country's presidential election at the Quirinale Palace in Rome, Italy, January 29, 2022. /CFP)