Sauli Niinisto, a candidate of Finland’s moderate conservative National Coalition Party won Sunday’s presidential elections, ending the 30-year-long period of Social Democratic Party presidents.
Niinisto won the runoff with 62.6 percent of the vote, the country’s justice ministry said. He claimed victory in 14 out of the country's 15 constituencies.
Niinisto’s opponent, Green League candidate Pekka Haavisto, garnered 37.4 percent of the vote. He conceded defeat when about 80 percent of ballots had been counted and it was clear that Niinisto scored more than 60 percent, Finland’s national broadcaster YLE said.
The turnout was 68.9 percent, the lowest in a presidential election since 1950.
Outgoing President Tarja Halonen phoned Niinisto on Sunday evening to congratulate him on election victory.
Official election results will be announced on February 8. Niinisto will be sworn in as Finland’s 12th president on March 1.
