The bio of Waed Qannam reads like the perfect resume for a potential president of Palestine.

Born in the Arroub refugee camp near Hebron in 1992; graduated in law from Palestine's leading university, Al-Quds; holder of a master's degree in law from Birzeit University; and active in the Fatah movement, Qannam became a resident of Jerusalem after his father, an eye doctor, moved to the Holy City in 2002. His mother is an activist in the Palestinian women's movement and became the director general of the Women's Ministry.

Qannam's resume may have helped him reach the pinnacle of a presidential contest, but it was not the political one. A made-for-television contest that began in 2013, called "al-Raies" (Arabic for "president"), on Maan TV allows Palestinians to compete in front of a crowd and a jury made up of veteran politicians. President Qannam was "chosen" from a crowded field that included 1,180 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip after 40 grueling episodes. The decision as to who would become the "president" was taken by a jury made up of senior Palestinian political figures and local businessmen, along with votes from the public. He was voted president on the season finale that aired June 1.

Qannam told Al-Monitor that he had watched the first run of the program back in 2013 and liked the idea because it was different than most TV-based contests. "Most shows on Arab television stations are music or talent-based; but this project allowed people to represent themselves and to develop their ideas in a public setting," he said.