(http://yle.fi/ecepic/archive/00474/tuore_tasavallan_pr_474030b.jpg)
President-elect Sauli Niinistö was sworn into office on Thursday. Ceremonies commenced at noon, with President Tarja Halonen and Niinistö arriving at parliament to address the legislature.
In the early afternoon, the pair, accompanied by their spouses, headed to the presidential palace, where they met senior defence and government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and the presidential staff. President Halonen also took her leave of the palace staff, leaving the stage to her successor Niinistö and his wife, Jenni Haukio.
Meanwhile as Chief of Finland's Defence forces, Niinistö took the opportunity during his inauguration to respond to a call from the Finns Party to stop deep defence cuts announced by the government. Niinistö threw his weight fully behind the government proposal.
"The direction of these reforms has been known as well as the tangible pain that the inevitable changes mean. It is good that the government has taken action so that we can support those areas affected by these structural changes," Niinistö said, referring to communities that will be affected by the closure of army garrisons.
YLE