Recount brings Helsinki presidential election result even closer

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After a routine check and recount of the votes cast in the Presidential Election, the result in the Helsinki constituency became even tighter than it had appeared on Sunday night.
      In the end, the gap in the capital between Sauli Niinistö and the runner-up Pekka Haavisto was down to just 750 votes out of 348,000 votes cast.
      Niinistö took 50.1% and Haavisto 49.9%. The initial figures had given victory to Niinistö by a margin of more than 1,000 and a 50.2% share of the pot.
     
As expected, the recount brought no change whatsoever to the result nationwide.
      Sauli Niinistö gained 62.6% of the votes and his rival Haavisto 37.4%.
      Measured in the various constituencies, the result changed fractionally in seven locations, by no more than 0.1%-points either way.
      Haavisto picked up a few more votes to improve his position in Helsinki, Pirkanmaa, Kymi, and Oulu, while Niinistö's margin of victory increased slightly in Uusimaa, Satakunta, and Lapland.
      In all, 2,879,753 votes were cast in Finland and abroad, and 25,133 (0.9%) were rejected for one reason or another.
     
Although the successful candidate has undoubtedly been well aware of what happened since around 20:30 on Sunday night, the official announcement of Niinistö's victory and election will be delivered to him by courier in the next few days.
      The official document, signed by Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson (Swedish People's Party) and Elections Director Arto Jääskeläinen, states that: "The people of Finland have elected You, Sauli Niinistö, to become Finland's President of the Republic for a term of six years from March 1st, 2012".
     
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Sauli Niinistö, 63, is Finland´s 12th President, after defeating Pekka Haavisto by a wide margin of 62.6% to 37.4%

Links:
  Ministry of Justice Elections Portal - complete results

Helsingin Sanomat