Finland’s former finance minister victorious in presidential election

Finnish Presidential candidates Sauli Niinist, centre left, and Pekka Haavisto, centre right, arrive for a televised political debate at the Finnish broadcast company YLE in Helsinki, Finland, Thursday Feb. 2, 2012. Finns go to polls on upcoming Sunday, for the second decisive electoral round to vote one of these contenders into office, to succeed President Tarja Halonen. (AP Photo / LEHTIKUVA, Kimmo Mantyla) FINLAND OUT - NO SALES

Former Finnish Finance Minister Sauli Niinisto emerged victorious in the nation’s presidential election Sunday, according to preliminary results.

According to Finland’s Ministry of Justice, with 100% of votes counted, Niinisto defeated the nation’s first openly gay presidential candidate, Pekka Haavisto, with 62.6% of the vote compared to Haavisto’s 37.4%.

Both were vying to succeed Tarja Halonen, Finland’s first female president, who cannot run for re-election.

In the first round of voting on January 28, the conservative Niinisto took just under 37% of the vote.

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