Väyrynen: I wouldn't trade a single day
"This campaign was a really great experience from beginning to end, I wouldn't trade a single day," Centre Party candidate Paavo Väyrynen told disappointed supporters Sunday evening. Väyrynen's final tally was 17.5%, short of the 18.8% that brought Green candidate Pekka Haavisto a place in the second round.
Väyrynen thanked supporters and reminded them that it was a good campaign.
"This campaign was a really great experience. I can't see that anything could have been done better. We did it right and in some things we had a little luck, too. But there were not enough votes for us to make it to the second round. I'm sorry about this, but I'm satisfied and proud of the results and very deeply grateful to you all for your support in this campaign," he told Sunday evening's gathering.
The Centre Party candidate came out in first or second place ahead of his Green League opponent in 8 of 15 electoral districts. Haavisto placed second in six. Even so, Haavisto's higher total in the nationwide vote determined his spot in the second round.
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