Ex-FinMin Triumphs as Finland President-Elect

Conservative National Coalition Party candidate Sauli Niinisto (R) is hugged by his spouse Jenni Haukio (L) in the Finlandia Concert Hall in Helsinki, Finland, 05 February 2012. Photo by BGNES

Former Finnish Finance Minister Sauli Niinisto has expectedly triumphed as the country's President-elect, gathering almost 63% of the votes in Sunday's runoff against Pekka Haavisto of the Greens.

Niinisto's victory means that the centre-right National Coalition Party will for the first time ever hold the posts of President and Prime Minister at the same time.

The historical election also puts an end to a 30-year period in which the Social Democrats held the Nordic country's presidency without a break, The European Voice reminds.

Two major Eurosceptics were eliminated in the first round – Paavo Vayrynen, endorsed by the Center Party, as well as former MEP Timo Soini, leader of the Finns (formerly translated as the True Finns).

The voter turnout in the election runoff fell by around four points from the first round to hit just 68.8%, the lowest figure for a presidential poll since 1950, the local Helsingin Sanomat has observed.

Niinisto beat Haavisto comfortably in all areas of the country with the exception of the ?land Islands, populated mainly by Swedes, and in Helsinki, where the two men were evenly matched.

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