Finland re-elects popular president who survived 2004 Thailand tsunami by climbing tree
The father of two sons lost his first wife in a car accident in 1995 and narrowly survived the 2004 tsunami in Thailand by climbing a tree with his youngest child
Finns have re-elected their popular and cautious president Sauli Niinisto, who is credited with maintaining a balanced relationship with the nation’s powerful neighbour Russia at a time of simmering relations between Moscow and the West.
“I am surprised and touched by this big support,” Niinisto told reporters Sunday in Helsinki, who secured over 62 per cent of the vote, significantly ahead the seven other candidates, with all the ballots counted.
Finland’s most popular president in more than three decades, the 69-year-old politician avoided a need for a second-round of voting, a first since Finland introduced a two-round presidential election by popular vote in 1994.
Niinisto’s main rival Pekka Haavisto of the Green party won just 12 per cent of the votes.
Conceding defeat, he told reporters in Helsinki: “I admit that Sauli Niinisto clearly won, warm congratulations to him.”
