19/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - Presidential elections. The pro-European conservative National Coalition candidate for the presidential elections in Finland later this month, Sauli Niinistö, is expected to win the first round on Sunday 22 January with between 40% and 50% of the vote, which would mean that the 63-year-old would be elected this Sunday. Eurosceptic Centre Party candidate Paavo Väyrynen is expected to poll 17%, as is Pekka Haavisto (Green League), with Timo Soini (head of the Finnish Party) getting 9%. A second round is scheduled for 5 February, if required. Niinistö's campaign focused on his country's role in the EU, although this is an area no longer under the president's control after changes in October 2011. During the campaign, he argued that Finland had acquired influence in the world due to its membership of the EU and the eurozone. The winner will take over from the current president, Tarja Halonen, who is ending a second six-year term of office. (CG/transl.fl)