Albania’s parliament elected its top military official as the country’s new president on Saturday after no candidates were nominated in three rounds of voting.

Gen.-Maj. Bajram Begaj won the post after the 140-seat Parliament voted 78 in favor, four against and one abstained.

Begaj’s name was proposed by the Socialist Party of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The new president was elected in the fourth round of the presidential election process.

A part of the opposition did not take part in the voting, which called the appointment of an active military man to the post of president a constitutional violation.

Begaj is the successor of Ilir Meta who will hand over the task on July 24.

Begaj was born on March 20, 1967, in Rrogozhina. He has completed his studies in Medicine, while in his military career he has served in various leadership positions.