Italy elects senior judge Sergio Mattarella as president

Italy's new President Sergio Mattarella visits the Constitutional Court headquarters in Rome January 31, 2015. REUTERS/Press Officer Presidenza della Repubblica

ROME (Reuters) - Italian lawmakers elected Sergio Mattarella, a constitutional court judge and veteran centre-left politician, as president on Saturday, handing a welcome political victory to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Mattarella, speaking at his office in the Constitutional Court after the vote, said: "My first thoughts are of the difficulties and hopes of our citizens."