Social Democrats and conservatives emerged as winners in local elections in Finland on Sunday. The Social Democrats passed Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's Centre Party as the largest party on the local level, broadcaster YLE reported after some 75 per cent of the votes were counted. The Social Democrats, part of the governing coalition, gained 1.5 per cent, while the opposition conservatives added 0.7 per cent to 21.5 per cent. The Centre Party lost 0.8 per cent and fell to 23 per cent. Voter turnout was at 58.6 per cent.
