The second round of the Scandinavian country’s Feb. 5 presidential election will be historic for at least one reason: the 30-year rule of the Social Democrats will come to an end. The first vote on Jan. 22 saw two pro-euro candidates make the run-off and the nationalist anti-immigration Finns Party suffer a heavy setback, according to the AFP. Former Finance Minister Sauli Niinisto led solidly with just under 37% of the vote, while pro-European Green League candidate Pekka Haavisto claimed second place. Finland’s current president, Tarja Halonen, has reached her two-term limit after serving 12 years. She defeated Niinisto, of the conservative National Coalition Party, in 2006. The new challenger, Haavisto, is Finland’s first openly gay presidential candidate, according to local media. Turnout was high in the opening round, at 73% of Finland’s 4.4 million eligible voters, CNN reports.
Ballot Box Watch: Your Guide to February Elections
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