HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finland’s centre-right presidential front-runner Alexander Stubbe is ahead of the liberal Green Party’s Pekka Haavisto in a new poll released on Thursday ahead of the January 28 election. He extended his lead slightly.
In the new era, which saw Russia join NATO in April last year in the wake of neighboring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the winner will succeed Sauli Niinisto, who is retiring after two six-year terms.
The January 12-17 survey commissioned by Maasdun Turevaisius newspaper found that 24% of respondents supported Mr. Stab, a former prime minister and member of the ruling National Union party, and 21% supported Mr. Haavis, who was foreign minister until last year. I supported Mr.
Support for Stubb increased by 1 percentage point from a similar survey a month earlier, while support for Harvist decreased by 2 percentage points over the same period, although Harvist led Stubb by more than 7 percentage points in November. Ta.
Far-right Finnish Party candidate Jussi Halaaho’s approval rating increased by three points to 15%, placing him in third place in the poll.
Halaaho is especially popular among young people, as evidenced by an unofficial poll of around 94,000 teenagers sponsored by the Finnish National Youth Council, with 20.8% support for Halaaho. He came in second place, behind winner Stubbe’s 21.5%.
Other candidates include Olli Rehn, former EU Economic Commissioner and Governor of the Bank of Finland, in fourth place with 12% support, and Social Democratic Party Commissioner for International Partnership Jutta Ulpilainen with 7% support.
The President is the Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defense Forces, represents Finland at NATO meetings, and works with the government to lead foreign policy.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast on January 28th, a second runoff election will be held on February 11th.
(Reporting by Anne Kaulanen; Editing by Nick McPhee)
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