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.
Full story: Finland’s former finance minister victorious in presidential election