Profile: Finnish incumbent President Tarja Halonen

Finnish incumbent President Tarja Halonen beat her rival Sauli Niinisto and was re-elected on Sunday in the second round of voting in the presidential election.

The following is a profile of Halonen.

In Finland's political landscape, Halonen is one of the most experienced politicians.

Born in December 1943, Halonen grew up in a family of a construction worker in Helsinki. She gained a master degree in laws in the University of Helsinki in 1968.

From 1974 to 1979, Halonen served as a lawyer for the country's trade union. She held the portfolio of justice minister in 1990-1991 and became Finland's first female foreign minister in 1995.

In 2000, Halonen broke Finland's political history records again. She won the presidential election and was sworn in as the first female president in the Nordic country.

Halonen has a daughter and was a single mother when she became president. Soon afterwards she married her partner Pentti Arajarvi, who is a professor of social law.

Halonen is interested in literary history and enjoys arts and swimming.

Source: Xinhua