Helsinki, Finland ? Finland’s left-leaning president failed to win enough votes to secure re-election Sunday, forcing a runoff against a conservative challenger.

President Tarja Halonen won 46 percent, according to final results, well ahead of her main challenger but short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff in the country that prides itself on egalitarian values and was the first in Europe to give women the vote a century ago.

“It’s a pity … but it’s no use to complain,” said Halonen, who is seeking a second six-year term.

The second-place finisher, Sauli Niinisto, won 24 percent of the vote.

Halonen, a former trade union lawyer, was elected president in 2000. She was a Social Democratic lawmaker for more than two decades and served as foreign minister for five years.

The other five candidates representing each had less than 4 percent of the vote Sunday.

The Finnish head of state has few powers and is not involved in daily politics.