Sixty-three year-old Niinistö has an impressive resumé in Finnish politics. Most Finns remember Niinistö as the hard-nosed finance minister, a position in which he gained respect as a politician willing to take tough decisions. He served in that post for seven years from 1996–2003 rescuing Finland from the grip of recession and taking the nation into the euro.
Tumultuous personal life
The president-elect is no stranger to tragedy. In 1995, His first wife of 20 years died in a road accident and later he himself clung on to life in the Indian Ocean tsunami by climbing up a tree in Thailand to escape the waves. These experiences have helped temper his no-nonsense attitude and undoubtedly endeared him to voters of all ages.
Before marrying his party’s communications manager, Jenni Haukio, Niinistö was engaged to an ex-beauty queen turned parliamentarian, although that relationship ended a year after the engagement.
Niinistö has been married to Haukio, 29 years his junior, since 2009. He has two adult children from a previous marriage and is an uncle of Green League chair and Environment Minister Ville Niinistö.
Legal training
The keen roller-blader is the last of four children born to working class parents in southwestern Finland. Niinistö, who earned his law degree from Turku University, first entered politics in the town of Salo as a councillor for the National Coalition Party. At the same time he ran his own law practice until 1988.
He quickly rose to prominence in the party’s ranks, becoming an MP in 1987. Just nine years later he became Finland’s longest serving Finance Minister from 1996 to 2003. Prior to this he was Finland's Minister of Justice from 1995–1996. He also held the chairmanship of his National Coalition Party.
Niinistö first had the presidency in his sights six years ago when he challenged incumbent Tarja Halonen. He narrowly lost the race, but settled into people's minds as the conservative frontrunner.
International service came with his selection as Vice President of the European Investment Bank from 2003–2007 and chair of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 1999–2003. After returning home he rejoined Parliament as its Speaker from 2007–2011.
Finland’s 12th president is described as being “brash and forthright.”
“I’m a real Finn at heart,” he told audiences on election night.
On the job, he will be involved with foreign policy but without real influence on EU matters following the handing over of powers on that issue to the government.
Presidential powers have been gradually curtailed in recent years. That said, no major shake-ups are are expected as Niinistö takes office.
"We don't face any sudden changes -- actually the president can't do that," Niinistö told YLE News of his role in the face of diminishing presidential powers.
First indications on what might occupy Niinistö point to an initial social course. On election night, Niinistö suggested setting up a working group to investigate methods to combat the alienation of youth in society.
