Niinisto sworn in as president of Finland

HELSINKI, Finland, March 1 (UPI) -- Sauli Niinisto was sworn in Thursday as the 12th president of Finland.

Niinisto and outgoing President Tarja Halonen arrived at Parliament to address the Legislature, Finnish broadcaster YLE reported.

They were scheduled to join their spouses to head to the presidential palace, where they were set to greet the public from the balcony and meet representatives of the diplomatic corps and high-ranking government officials, the report said.

Niinisto is to serve a six-year term and is limited by the Constitution to two terms.