World

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.

14.03.2012

(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.