The left-leaning Halonen took 46.3 percent of the vote, well ahead of Niinisto's 24.1 percent. Centrist Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who finished third Jan. 15 with 18.6 percent, said he would vote for Niinisto in the second round Jan. 29.

Halonen, Finland's first woman president, was visibly disappointed as the results came in, but was optimistic of her chances in the runoff.

"It's a pity . . . but it's no use complaining," she said. "I'm in pole position."

Halonen had needed more than half of the votes to secure a second six-year term in a country that prides itself on egalitarian values and was the first in Europe to give women the vote a century ago.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 21, 2006
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