Likud lawmaker Reuven Rivlin officially announced Monday that he will run for president of the State of Israel.

Rivlin was key in orchestrating the election of current president Moshe Katsav, the Likud candidate who beat the favorite Shimon Peres in 2000.

"During the latter stages of my tenure as speaker of the 16th Knesset, I became convinced of the fact that many of you, from all factions of the house, regardless of political affiliation, see me as a worthy candidate for the highest office," Rivlin said in a letter sent to every Knesset member.

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Rivlin dismissed the drive by supporters of Peres to amend the Basic Law: The President in order to make the vote for Katsav's successor an open ballot.

"There is no need to be loquacious about unworthy stunts aimed at expunging all substance from the authority placed in the hands of the Knesset to select the president of the state," he wrote.

"It appears to me that the harsh critism from all around and the opposition from across the political spectrum has made it clear that the MKs will not aggree to turn the process of electing the president on into a hollow show of conditional democracy," Rivlin continued.

Rivlin added that "the presidency is in crisis. We are all aware of that. The crisis is so serious, to the point that voices casting doubt the purpose of this institution are also being heard."

"But I believe, despite the blow to the presidency, or even as a result of it, that we the Israelis deserve at this time a president with a sparkle in his eyes, who sees his term of office as the height of his public service," said Rivlin.