Finns narrowly re-elect Halonen

Incumbent Tarja Halonen has won a second six-year term in Finland's presidential run-off election by a razor thin margin.

President Tarja Halonen and husband Pentti Arajärvi

President Halonen, the country's first woman leader, beat off Conservative challenger Sauli Niinistö with 51.8% of the vote.
The left-wing president had not won an outright majority in the first round.

The president is largely involved with foreign policy, and both contenders offered very similar visions. Both advocated close ties with Nato, which is a sensitive issue in Finland as the country shares an 800-mile border with Russia. Mr Niinistö was however considered to be more open to membership in the Western alliance.

President Halonen campaigned as "the president for all the people" on a platform of equality and preserving the welfare state. Mr Niinistö, a 57-year-old banker, styled himself as a "workers' president", campaigning in favour of economic and social reforms to create jobs and ensure continued prosperity.

Mr Niinistö conceded defeat saying "the man has lost". He then kissed President Halonen's hand.

29.1.2006 BBC