Estonian leaders congratulated Alexander Stubbe on becoming Finland’s next president following Sunday’s second round of elections.
Finland’s public broadcaster Ale reported on its English page that Finland’s next president will be the country’s former prime minister, Alexander Stubb (NCP), who has been considered the favorite since joining the election last summer.
Stubbe, a centre-right candidate, will succeed Sauli Niinistö, who has been in power for two six-year terms since 2012.
Niinistö is also a member of the NCP, so this represents continuity alongside the fact that Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is also a member of the liberal-conservative NCP.
Mr Stubb and independent Green candidate Pekka Haavisto passed the first round of the presidential election and advanced to the second round on Sunday, winning 51.6% to 48. Mr. Stubb won by a narrow margin of .4%.
Estonian President Aral Kalis tweeted in Finnish, welcoming the news and pointing out that as twin nations, Finland and Estonia will be closer than ever for regional security.
Caxocerta Caxocer – Pulsion Onnea Presidenti @alexstubb!
Sanonta, Etta #viro well #Suomi ovat kuin kaksoset, kuuluu juuri sinulle. I want to know what you think about you, what you know about yourself, and how you think about your life.— Alakar Karis (@AlarKaris) February 11, 2024
“My dear friend Alexander Stubbe, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your election as President of Finland,” said Prime Minister Kaja Kalas (Reform).
I would like to congratulate you on your election as president. #Finlandmy dear friend @alexstubb.
Suomi and Viro love themselves. Oren Varma, your actions are on pian.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) February 11, 2024
Voter turnout in the second round was 70.7%, down from 75% in the first round two weeks ago, but the vote count on Sunday was just under 94%, with the public broadcaster predicting Stubb (NCP) will be the winner. did. Haavisto, 65, said he will now concentrate on his job as a member of parliament and has no intention of running for president again, having already run twice before.
Mr Stubb’s first comments after the results were announced included a desire to place Finland at the “core” of NATO. “I want to continue on Niinistö’s path, but I understand that a new era is beginning,” he said, adding that defense spending, which will account for 2.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, and NATO and He cited three security “keys” to joining the EU.Defense cooperation agreement with the United States
Stubbe also contrasted favorably the Finnish presidential election with the way presidential elections are conducted in the United States, saying in response to defense and related questions that he was “very proud of the way we conducted our elections here in Finland.” Told. Security and the possibility that Donald Trump will be re-elected to the US after the US elections in November.
“It was very constructive, very positive and in many ways very respectful. I think it’s a victory for liberal democracies, because for us foreign and security policy is “Because it’s an existential issue. We understand very well that we can’t have tough discussions about this issue,” he continued. “Foreign and security policy, especially in this world political climate, is not the case.” Ta.
“I have lived and studied in the United States, so I am well aware that American presidential elections are a little different in nature. I have been observing presidential elections since Bill Clinton was elected. ” NATO is the world’s strongest military alliance and collective defense is [NATO] According to Mr. Eel, Article 5,” Mr. Stubbe added.
Nevertheless, “the United States is a very close ally of ours, and we expect and believe that this alliance will continue.”
The pro-European Mr. Stubb’s political rise began rapidly about 15 years ago, Ale reports. Stubb, 55, served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015 after replacing Jyrki Katainen as NCP leader. Stubb’s English wife was from Solihull in the West Midlands.
Although Finland’s head of state is not involved in the day-to-day running of the government, he plays a role in foreign and defense policy. Constitutional reforms enacted in 1999 slightly reduced the powers of the President of Finland, and the Office of the President now shares executive powers with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP).
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