HELSINKI, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Finnish President Tarja Halonen, the Baltic country's first female head of state, was sworn in Wednesday for a second term after winning re-election in January.

    Halonen, 62, a former trade union lawyer who grew up in a working-class area of Helsinki, won another six years in office after defeating her challenger, former Finance Minister Sauli Niinisto, in the Jan. 29 runoff.

    She enjoyed high approval ratings during her first term in this egalitarian country which was the first in Europe to give women the vote.

    The president is liked for her down-to-earth manner.

    Halonen swore her oath of office before the 200-member parliament before meeting members of the government and foreign ambassadors at the presidential palace.

    The Finnish head of state, who is responsible for the country's foreign policy, has few powers.

    But all relevant policy decisions taken by the president can be made only in close cooperation with the government. Enditem