The vote followed three days of tense and bitter debate over a vote of no confidence last week that ousted former President Litokwa Tomeing.
Zedkaia, like Tomeing, is a traditional chief, which was a key element in his election.
After his election, Zedkaia called for the Nitijela, the parliament, to work together and said what happened last week “is in the past.”
The vote for Zedkaia was 17-15, the same as during last Wednesday’s vote of no confidence, giving him the bare one-vote minimum needed to win the presidency in the 33-seat parliament.
He defeated former President Kessai Note, the only other nominee.
Zedkaia, a paramount chief for the capital atoll of Majuro, has presided over the parliament since Jan. 2008, and was a vice speaker in earlier administrations.
He is a five-term senator.
This presidential vote saw party lines blurred.
On Friday, Majuro Sen. Brenson Wase described MPs’ political affiliations as mixed up as “fruit salad,” with political parties no longer operative following fractures from three motions of no confidence during the past 12 months.
His comments were borne out by Monday’s nominations.
Jaluit Sen. Alvin Jacklick, a stalwart United Democratic Party member, nominated Zedkaia, who has been associated with the Aelon Kein Ad party, which controlled the government last year when he was elected speaker.
Aelon Kein Ad member Sen. Rellong Lemari nominated Note, who led the UDP as president of the country from 2000 to 2008.
