President Halonen seeks new second-term role in promoting values

Niinistö not to return to politics

Tarja Halonen

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The winner of Sunday’s Presidential elections, President Tarja Halonen, says that in her second six-year term she plans to put an emphasis on "values".
      At a press conference at the President’s Palace on Monday, Halonen said that during the campaign she had noticed that the competing candidates, the media, and the public all expect the President to act in such a way.
      Issues such as new poverty, the services of the welfare society, and equality are matters that Halonen says that she will address.
      Sauli Niinistö, who narrowly lost the race to President Halonen, said that he does not plan to return to politics after his term at the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg is over, and indicated that he was not interested in another run for the Presidency.
      Niinistö said that it was difficult to challenge the President in office: for many people voting against the President was like sacking someone.
     
At Monday’s press conference, President Halonen commented on negative campaigning, and malicious rumours spread about her during the campaign.
      She did not specify the gossip in question, but in recent weeks there had been press reports of anonymous civil servants criticising her management style when she was Minister for Foreign Affairs, and of friction between herself and former President Martti Ahtisaari.
      She noted that it is difficult to respond to such allegations, when the media reports that carry them quote sources who want to remain anonymous.
      There had also been rumours spread by SMS message and the Internet. According to the most outrageous, Halonen had made a speech at a First of May celebration in 1976 suggesting that Finland could become a part of the Soviet Union.
     
Looking back at the campaign, Halonen said that the second round in the election had a greater focus on party politics than before.
      She said that she was disturbed by being labelled "the candidate of the left". She said that she wants to be the President of all of the people, and to do so she wants to become better acquainted with everyday life in the countryside and urban areas.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  COMMENTARY: Finnish Presidential election had two winners (30.1.2006)
  Tarja Halonen elected to second term as President after close race (30.1.2006)

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