Conservative Niinistoe seen winning presidential run-off

Finland's conservative pro-European Sauli Niinistoe had a commanding lead over his Green challenger Pekka Haavisto in Sunday's presidential vote with 60 percent of ballots counted, the justice ministry said. Niinistoe had 65.5 percent of the vote while Haavisto held just 34.5 percent, the ministry said. This provisional result was in line with what opinion polls had predicted. Niinistoe, a former finance minister, dominated the first round in January and had a strong lead in opinion polls over Haavisto, a 53-year-old liberal in a same-sex partnership with an Ecuadorian hairdresser. Niinistoe's experience as finance minister has lent his candidacy credibility amid the European debt crisis, while Haavisto's pro-gay stance has lost him support among older and more traditional Finns, analysts have said. If the results are confirmed, his win will end a 30-year spell of Social Democratic presidents in the small Nordic country. The no-nonsense politician will succeed popular outgoing President Tarja Halonen who has served a maximum two terms.