HELSINKI: Polling stations opened across Finland in Sunday's presidential election, with pro-euro career politician Sauli Niinistoe leading the polls after a campaign centred on Finland's role in Europe.
Niinistoe, a respected member of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen's conservative National Coalition Party and one of Finland's most experienced politicians, has consistently enjoyed a wide lead in opinion polls, with the latest survey published Friday giving him 32 percent of votes.
Although well ahead of his rivals, his lead has slipped from as high as 51 percent in December, increasing the probability of a second run-off round of voting.
Pekka Haavisto, the 53-year-old EU-friendly Green candidate, has surged into second place in recent weeks from single digit obscurity to 13 percent in the latest survey published Friday, while 65-year-old eurosceptic Paavo Vaeyrynen of the traditionally agrarian Centre Party, is in third place with around 11 percent of voter intentions.
The populist and deeply eurosceptic Finns Party candidate Timo Soini, 49, has meanwhile seen his support dwindle from double digits to six percent.
Polls will close at 6.00 pm (1600 GMT) and official results are expected at 8.00 pm (1800 GMT).
If no candidate obtains more than 50 percent of votes Sunday, a run-off will be held on February 5.
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