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Sauli Niinisto wins Finland's presidency

Pekka Haavisto (l) and Sauli Niinisto (r) remaining presidential candidates
Pekka Haavisto (l) and Sauli Niinisto (r) remaining presidential candidates

Pro-Europe politician Sauli Niinisto won Finland's presidency, according to an early tally of today's run-off election.

The former finance minister won the largely symbolic leadership post with about 66% support, defeating another pro-euro candidate, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens Party, an early count showed.

The two had beaten anti-euro candidates in an earlier round.

As president, Mr Niinisto will have little executive power beyond military and foreign affairs but potentially has influence over public opinion.

A eurosceptic president may have put pressure on the government to take a harder stand against EU bailouts of debt-ridden member states.