Niinistö invites Kristersson over phone to visit Finland

President Sauli Niinistö on Tuesday had a telephone conversation with the newly elected Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, said the President Office in a press release.

Niinistö congratulated Kristersson on his election and welcomed him for a visit to Finland soon.

The President emphasised the special importance of close cooperation between Finland and Sweden in the prevailing security situation.

Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the conservative Moderate Party, was elected on Monday as Sweden's prime minister with the support — for the first time — of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.

The 58-year-old politician announced last week that his party, along with the Christian Democrats and Liberals, had reached a deal to form a minority coalition backed by the Sweden Democrats.