Flowers, tears and hot dogs: Finland's historic election night in photos
The National Coalition Party was declared the winner of Finland's 2023 parliamentary election after a rollercoaster results night in Helsinki.
NCP leader Petteri Orpo embracing party secretary Kristiina Kokko as well as MPs Antti Häkkänen, Kai Mykkänen and Elina Valtonen after the party was declared the winner of the election. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
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Yle's photographers captured the agony and the ecstasy of election night at the party events around Helsinki, as the opposition National Coalition (NCP) and Finns Party celebrated electoral success while some government coalition partners faced deep disappointment.
NCP leader Petteri Orpo capped off his evening by ordering an "Orpo's special" from a grill kiosk in the centre of the capital, as his party claimed top spot in the poll with 48 seats. The NCP was followed in second place by the Riikka Purra-led Finns Party, with 46 seats, and former Prime Minister Sanna Marin's Social Democrats, on 43 seats.
Below is a selection of the best images from a thrilling election results night in Helsinki.
NCP party secretary Kristiina Kokko welcomes candidate Timo Erkkilä to the party's election results on Sunday evening. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
NCP MP Ben Zyskowicz chatting with Berivan Suleiman, candidate Seida Sohrab, who was wearing the colours of the Kurdistan flag, and Sohrab's mother Rukia Gohdarz at the NCP's results party. Sohrabi was not elected to parliament. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Movement Now leader, and sole MP, Hjallis "Harry" Harkimo preparing to speak to his party's supporters. Image: Mikko Ahmajärvi / Yle
Swedish People's Party chair Anna-Maja Henriksson and her party colleague Fredrik Guseff watching on as the results roll in. Image: Mikko Ahmajärvi / Yle
SDP chair Sanna Marin being interviewed by Yle at her party's election event at the capital's Hotel Presidentti. Image: Benjamin Suomela / Yle
Defence Minister and Centre Party MP Antti Kaikkonen hugging outgoing MP Mikko Kärnä before the announcement of the advance voting results. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
Centre Party MPs Riikka Pakarinen, Markus Lohi, Petri Honkonen, Annika Saarikko and Riikka Pirkkalainen at the Centre Party's results event. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
Mikko Kärnä arriving at the Centre Party event with his wife Anna Sirkilä. Although he was confident of being re-elected, he failed to garner enough votes. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
Yle journalist Antti Pilke following the announcement of the advance voting results, as Antti Kaikkonen hugs Centre Party chair Annika Saarikko. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
NCP chair Petteri Orpo arriving at Yle's live results broadcast from Little Parliament House. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Sanna Marin, Petteri Orpo and Riikka Purra. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Finns Party leader Riikka Purra speaking to the media. Image: Benjamin Suomela / Yle
Left Alliance chair Li Andersson and Centre Party leader Annika Saarikko checking the latest results. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
Yle's election coverage was broadcast from both Pasila and Little Parliament House (pictured). Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
NCP chair Petteri Orpo speaking to members of the international media. Image: Benjamin Suomela / Yle
Annika Saarikko arriving at the Centre Party's election results party. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
Antti Kaikkonen pinning a Kaikkonen badge to the lapel of party colleague Antti Siika-aho's jacket. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
Centre Party MPs Riikka Pakarinen, Markus Lohi and Petri Honkonen reacting to Yle's election forecast. Image: Jani Saikko / Yle
Attendees at the Left Alliance's results party reacting to Yle's forecast. The party would eventually lose 5 seats in Parliament. Image: Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
Left Alliance leader Li Andersson thanking the party's candidates, supporters and volunteers. Image: Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
The crowd at the National Coalition Party's event chanted "Petteri, Petteri" as they waited for the party leader to return from Little Parliament House. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Christian Democrats leader Sari Essayah (Centre) at her party's election event. Image: Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
Green Party candidate Alviina Alametsä (right), her campaign manager Priska Niemi-Sampan (centre) and Yuri Birjulin at the party's results event, before it became clear that the Greens would suffer a major electoral defeat. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Former Green Party MP Emma Kari hugging party leader Maria Ohisalo. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Green Party leader Maria Ohisalo and party supporters watching on as the party loses seven parliamentary seats. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
NCP leader Petteri Orpo is embraced by party colleague Leevi Väisänen. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Sami Pajunoja wearing a western-style hat at the Finns Party's event, with the party's campaign slogan "Save Finland" pinned to the brim. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Finns Party supporters react to Yle's electoral forecast, which showed the party was on course to gain seven seats. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Finns Party chair Riikka Purra arrived to the party's event to chants of "Riikka, Riikka, Riikka." Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Satu Lampi, Petri Huhtala ja Kirsi Loponen at the Finns Party event. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Finns Party chair Riikka Purra celebrates her party's success at the results night event at Apollo Live. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Former Finns Party chair Jussi Halla-aho was thanked by current leader Riikka Purra for his work with the party. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
Finns Party secretary Arto Luukkanen and MP Leena Meri dancing on stage at the Finns Party event. Image: Tuomo Björksten / Yle
SDP chair Sanna Marin speaking at the party's event on Sunday evening, beside party secretary Anton Rönnholm (left) and MP Matias Mäkynen (right). Image: Benjamin Suomela / Yle
NCP leader Petteri Orpo left his party's event at about midnight alongside his wife Niina Kanniainen-Orpo. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Petteri Orpo ordered an "Orpo's special" from a grill kiosk in the centre of Helsinki. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
The "Orpo's special" includes hot dogs, bratwurst, barbecue sauce, onion powder and blue cheese. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
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