I had never seen Niinistö like this – 2024-02-23 13:21:36

Crete Karvala

People’s warmth, thanks and familiar faces moved the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on Thursday at Salo market. Perhaps also a relief from the fact that soon he will leave his position as the bearer of Finland’s destiny, writes Iltalehti’s Kreeta Karvala.

Yesterday at 19:02

“This is a very nostalgic moment, of course,” President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö had time to say at the media meeting of his last trip to the province on Thursday at Salo market. After that, he paused and began to wipe the tears that fell down his cheeks.

People’s warmth, thanks and familiar faces moved Niinistö to tears, and perhaps also the relief that he will soon leave his demanding position as president of the republic.

I have followed Niinistö for 12 years at various events both in Finland and around the world, from the White House to the Turkish President’s Palace. I’ve also done numerous interviews with him over the years, but never before have I seen Niinistö so moved as he was on Thursday at Salo market.

Niinistö did not feel even when Finland historically became a member of NATO on 4.4. 2023. The president only juridically stated his satisfaction that “this part of the membership process is now over”.

Over the years, Niinistö’s emotional scale has ranged mainly between matter-of-factness, seriousness or mild irritation. Sometimes I’ve also seen Niinistö smiling happily and casually joking.

The moved President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö wiped tears from his cheeks on his last trip to the province in Salo. Matti Matikainen

The President of the Republic, Sauli Niinistö, has carried the worries of the world on his shoulders on behalf of Finland for almost 12 years. There is only one week left in the term.

People who know Niinistö at the Salo market characterize him as fair, direct and reliable. Many thanks were also given to Niinistö’s leadership and responsibility in difficult times.

The people of Salo seem to know their president very well, because Niinistö has been characterized in the same way by his spouse, Dr. Jenni Haukio, who told Iltalehte earlier that Niinistö is an exceptional person with responsibility, who has devoted himself to his task without sparing his strength and without asking about the place or the time.

Here for you – in his book, Haukio also says that the president has only been able to break away from his duties sometimes in the distant peace of the archipelago.

When I asked Niinistö on Thursday if he will be able not to worry about Finland after his presidency, Niinistö replied that he will take care of Finland “in the same way as every Finn”, but reacting to things will no longer be his task in a week.

– Of course, it makes it a little easier not to be on guard all the time in a certain way, Niinistö said.

Many people at the Salo market hoped that the president would now take a proper rest after his demanding bath.

Niinistö, on the other hand, was happy that soon he will have time to come more often to Salo for market coffee, to meet old acquaintances and reminisce about the past.

– A person always moves close to his roots, Niinistö told the reason why his last provincial trip was to his hometown of Salo.

The president also had time to praise Salo’s “world’s best sports park”.

Niinistö said that Thursday’s market coffees were only supposed to be a small-scale event, but surprisingly it turned out to be a thank-you event for hundreds of people, where people had come from far away – maybe that was what moved Niinistö.

At the end of the event, the president still had words of hope for Finns living in the midst of worries, especially young people.

Niinistö believes that trust and responsibility will take Finland far.

– Now, in the midst of all the worries, it’s good to notice that we trust each other, and we have a sense of what we are responsible for.

– With these snacks, we can go a long way, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö said and left the middle of the applauding crowd to his car.