Pro-Europeans to face-off in Finnish poll

Two pro-European candidates would face-off in the second round of the Finnish presidential election on the 5 February 2012 after they headed the winners of the first round of the presidential election in Finland on the 22 January 2012. This quelled fears of the political establishment that the next stage would become an informal referendum on Europe.

Conservative former Finance Minister Sauli Niinisto won the second round of the presidential elections in Finland on the 5 November 2012.

ESO: Background information: Euro plays central role in Finnish election http://www.europeansources.info/record/euro-plays-central-role-in-finnish-election/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_presidential_election,_2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_presidential_election,_2012

ESO: Background information: Finnish presidential election, 2012 http://www.europeansources.info/record/finnish-presidential-election-2012/

Helsingin Sanomat, 22.1.12: Presidential Election - Sauli Niinistö and Pekka Haavisto go through to run-off in February; disappointed Paavo Väyrynen left in third as Finns Party and Social Democrat candidates snubbed by voters http://www.hs.fi/english/article/bSUNDAY+EVENING+2245b+Presidential+Election+-+Sauli+Niinist%C3%B6+and+Pekka+Haavisto+go+through+to+run-off+in+February+disappointed+Paavo+V%C3%A4yrynen+left+in+third+as+Finns+Party+and+Social+Democrat+candidates+snubbed+by+voters/1135270241982

Helsingin Sanomat, 8.2.12: Euroscepticism survives (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/1490881-euroscepticism-survives

Helsingin Sanomat, 6.2.12: A president of all the people http://www.hs.fi/english/article/PRESIDENTIAL+ELECTION+-+COMMENTARY+%E2%80%9CA+president+of+all+the+people%E2%80%9D/1135270343496

Helsingin Sanomat, 5.2.12: EU and euro scepticism is alive and well in Finland http://www.hs.fi/english/article/PRESIDENTIAL+ELECTION+EU+and+euro+scepticism+is+alive+and+well+in+Finland/1135270352547

Helsingin Sanomat, 6.2.12: Sauli Niinistö – a lone star http://www.hs.fi/english/article/PRESIDENTIAL+ELECTION+Sauli+Niinist%C3%B6+%E2%80%93+a+lone+star/1135270343378

BBC News, 5.2.12: Conservative Sauli Niinisto wins Finland presidency http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16900102

EurActiv, 23.1.12: Pro-euro candidate wins first round in Finnish election http://www.euractiv.com/elections/conservative-pro-euro-candidate-wins-round-finlands-election-news-510301

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