analysts have emphasized the President's position as a leader of values. Candidates All eight parties represented in the Parliament nominated a candidate. The nomination was unanimous in seven parties, while the Social Democratic Party's candidate was decided in a primary, which was won by Paavo Lipponen with 67% of the votes defeating Tuula Haatainen, who got 22% of the votes, and Ilkka Kantola who received 11% of the votes. Each candidate was given a number from 2 to 9 – voting took place by writing the candidate's number on the ballot paper. Constituency associations for independents or parties not represented in the Parliament must gather 20,000 signatures from eligible voters in order to participate in the election. In 2012, no such associations participated. Pekka Hallberg, the President of the Supreme Administrative Court, considered running as a non-partisan candidate, but eventually withdrew. Confirmed candidates Previously plausible candidates National Coalition Party Declined to run: Jorma Ollila, Chairman of Nokia and Royal Dutch Shell, was proposed as a possible joint candidate of the National Coalition Party and the Centre Party by Professor Erkki Laatikainen. He declined presidential candidacy for any party in August 2011. Alexander Stubb, Minister for Europe and Foreign Trade and former Minister for Foreign Affairs. Social Democratic Party Announced, then defeated in primary: Ilkka Kantola, Member of Parliament and former Bishop of the Archdiocese of Turku. Tuula Haatainen, former Minister of Education, former Minister of Social Affairs and Health. Declined to run: The following persons initially expressed interest toward running or were mentioned in speculation, but did not sign up for the party's primary, which started on 22 August. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mitro Repo, Member of the European Parliament and pastor in the Helsinki Orthodox Parish (temporarily banned from serving). Martti Ahtisaari, former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Maria Guzenina-Richardson, Minister of Health and Social Services. Tuire Santamäki-Vuori, President of the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors. Lauri Ihalainen, Minister of Labour, former President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions. Johannes Koskinen, Member of Parliament, former Minister of Justice. Tarja Filatov, Member of Parliament, former Minister of Labour. Pentti Arajärvi, Professor of the University of Eastern Finland, Doctor of Law, First Gentleman of Finland. Raimo Sailas, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Finance. Kaari Utrio, a writer. Suvi-Anne Siimes, former leader of Left Alliance, was proposed as a united candidate from