Niinistö thanks Finns for support during his tenure as President

The outgoing President, Sauli Niinistö on Thursday thanked Finns for all the support they have shown to him during his tenure as the President of the country in the past 12 years.

Niinistö, who will end his 12-year term as President on Friday met the media for the last time in the Presidential Palace when he said that 12 years earlier, after his election, he had used the expression about the touch of the people, said the President Office in a press release.

"In election campaigns, you meet thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people. With several people, you can at least exchange a few words," he said.

According to the president, these discussions and encouragement leave lasting, unforgettable traces.

"The touch of the people is not forgotten. It gets deeper. And of course, within the framework of the term of office, when you also meet a lot of people, it's as if the idea of ​​the contact with the people is established. It's deep,” he said.

The president said that the feeling evokes deep gratitude, but also a feeling of extreme obligation.

"They have trusted me, so I have to do my best. This is the feeling that, of course, will remain in my mind for most of these 12 years," said the President.

According to the president, the past 12 years have passed at an ever-increasing pace - a lot has happened.

"If we talk about doctrines, the most important one is that we are all human, even the great chiefs," he said.

He told the media that the role of doing also often came up.

"Which of you is wiser, make a big noise and then settle for what was said. Or maybe try to do what you see as good a little more subtly. I am a supporter of this latter doctrine,” he added.

Niinistö's term as President will come to an end on Friday, when the future President Alexander Stubb, will take office.