A former finance minister has won Finland’s presidential election and will become the country’s first conservative head of state in five decades.

A former finance minister has won Finland’s presidential election and will become the country’s first conservative head of state in five decades.

Finnish voters re-elected left-wing President Tarja Halonen for another six-year term in a close run-off against her conservative challenger.

Voters went to the polls in Finland’s presidential runoff today, with polls predicting a close race between leftist President Tarja Halonen and conservative challenger Sauli Niinisto.