Euronews
Finnish voters have chosen the pro-European conservative Sauli Niinistö as their next president.
He took the second round poll with more than 60 per cent of the vote.
The Finnish electorate have shown that by rejecting the euro-sceptic candidates, they still want Finland in the eurozone despite misgivings over EU rescue funds for countries in trouble.
Niinisto beat another pro-European, the Green candidate Pekka Haavisto, in the run-off.
He was hoping to become Finland’s first openly gay president, but conceded defeat with less than 40 per cent of the vote.
But it is still is a major result for Haavisto’s party, which only has ten seats of parliament’s 200.
Some analysts believe Niinistö‘s background in finance helped him win.
Niinistö profile- From tragedy to the Finnish presidency
He supports Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen’s tough fiscal plans to reduce Finland’s deficit.
