Finland votes in Sunday presidential runoff
Finns are voting for a new president in a runoff ballot between a veteran, conservative front-runner and the country's first openly gay candidate from the small Greens party.
(AP) Finns are voting for a new president in a runoff ballot between a veteran, conservative front-runner and the country's first openly gay candidate from the small Greens party.
Ex-finance minister Sauli Niinisto leads polls by a wide margin over former environment minister Pekka Haavisto as polling stations opened nationwide in record cold temperatures.
About a third of the electorate, some 1.5 million voters, cast ballots in a week of advance voting before Sunday's election. Polling stations close at 8 p.m.
The new president will replace Tarja Halonen, one of Finland's most popular heads of state, who has served the maximum two six-year terms.
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