The independent presidential candidate Sauli Niinisto speaks during his election reception in Helsinki, Finland, January 28, 2018. LEHTIKUVA/Jussi Nukari via REUTERS
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's moderate President Sauli Niinisto cruised to a rare first round election win on Sunday as his delicate balancing of ties with neighbour Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance resonated with voters.
The 69-year-old Niinisto, known for cultivating good relations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, won his second six-year term with an overwhelming 62.7 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens of Finland, secured just 12.4 percent.
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