New president strengthens Finland

The conservative politician Sauli Niinistö was voted Finnish president in the second round of the presidential elections on Sunday. The liberal daily Turun Sanomat says the conditions for good cooperation with the government are optimal: "In Niinistö Finland has a president whom the citizens can accept unreservedly, independently of which of the original eight candidates they voted for. Niinistö is starting out in a better position than many of his predecessors and conditions are optimal for realising his goal of strengthening Finnish society. ... Niinistö did not accept the reduction in presidential powers unconditionally. Yet during his election campaign he stressed how important it was for the president to support and cooperate with the country's government. So from an outsider perspective at least, the prerequisites for cooperation seem optimal. The government is led by a prime minister who, like the president, belongs to the National Coalition Party."

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