Finnish President Sauli Niinisto set for second term

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is expected to be re-elected for another six-year term after securing over 62 per cent of votes, according to early returns.

Finland's 3.5 million registered voters exercised their franchise on Sunday (Jan 28) as polling stations opened at 0700 GMT (1200 hrs IST), and closed at 1800 GMT (2330 hrs IST).

The 69-year-old moderate president, according to media reports, is known for maintaining a balanced relationship with Nato member states and powerful neighbour Russia, with whom the Nordic nation shares the longest border in the bloc.

With more than 60 per cent of votes in his kitty, Niinisto, who had campaigned as an independent, has avoided the need for second round of voting on Februray 11, a first since Finland introduced a two-round presidential election by popular vote in 1994.

According to latest reports, Niinisto's closest rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens of Finland, has received only 10.9 percent of the votes yet.