Free Republic

Incumbent President Tarja Halonen has easily won the first round of Finland's presidential poll but faces a run-off after failing to take 50% of the vote. The left-leaning Social Democrat leader Ms Halonen, 62, won 46.3% of the vote. She became the country's first woman president in the year 2000. Conservative Sauli Niinisto came second with 24.1%, and will face her in a run-off ballot in two weeks time. The election campaign was dominated by foreign policy issues, particularly traditionally neutral Finland's relationship with NATO. Centrist Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen was third with 18.6% of the vote.