Finns vote in presidential election

Finns went to the polls today to vote for a president, with surveys showing incumbent Tarja Halonen’s lead shrinking towards the 50% she needs to avoid a run-off.

Halonen, Finland’s popular first female president, was widely expected to win a second six-year term in a country that prides itself on egalitarian values and was the first in Europe to give women the vote 100 years ago.

“Teachers have told me that little boys have even asked if a man can be president,” Halonen, 62, a former Social Democratic minister, said on the campaign trail.

But her victory seemed less assured as the electionapproached, with polls showing a diminishing lead over her main rivals, former Finance Minister Sauli Niinisto, a conservative, and centrist Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.

If Halonen fails to get 50% of votes, she will face her closest contender in a run-off on January 29.

A former left-wing trade union lawyer, Halonen’s appeal crosses party lines. Before being elected president in 2000, she was foreign minister for five years and is equally at ease with world leaders as with working-class Finns.

And in the home of Nokia, the world’s largest cell phone maker, Halonen has been quick to catch onto trends by accepting a marriage proposal six years ago via SMS text messages rather than talking on the phone, for fear of personnel overhearing.

The election is more about character than issues as the Finnish head of state has few powers and is not involved in daily politics. Also, there is wide agreement on foreign policy, the main domain of the president, whose powers are limited to working in close cooperation with the prime minister and government.

All three main candidates approve of Finland’s 1995 membership of the European Union, good ties with neighbouring Russia and close cooperation with NATO.

But they have avoided calling for membership of the alliance, also opposed by the majority of this nation of 5.2 million that shares a 800-mile border with Russia, a former enemy.

Even if Halonen fails to clinch victory in the first round, surveys have indicated that her winning margin would be even greater in a second round.

It was the third time that Finns were able to vote directly for a president since 1994. Previously an electoral college of lawmakers and politicians chose the head of state.

Polls opened at 9am (7am Irish Time) and close at 8pm (6pm Irish Time).

Results were expected after 10pm (8pm Irish Time).