Finland's leftists lead with half of votes counted

Early results in Finland's general election on Sunday showed a lead for the leftist Social Democrats, while the current prime minister said his Centre Party was the night's "biggest loser".

The Social Democrats were credited with 18.9 per cent of votes after 47.3 per cent of ballots were counted, ahead of the conservative National Coalition at 16.6 per cent.

The Social Democrats, led by 56-year-old former trade union boss Antti Rinne, campaigned against the steep cost-cutting of Centre Party Prime Minister Juha Sipila and his Finance Minister Petteri Orpo -- leader of the conservative National Coalition Party.

"For the first time in a long, long time the Social Democrats are in first place," Rinne told reporters at the Finnish parliament.

A first-place spot would put the Social Democrats at the head of the government for the first time in 16 years.

The right-wing Finns Party was almost neck-and-neck in third place with PM Sipila's Centre Party, at around 15 per cent.

The Finns Party, .