After a close presidential election, former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubbe defeated former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto in Sunday’s run-off.
advertisementWhen all votes were counted, center-right candidate Alexander Stubb of the National Union Party won 51.6% of the vote, while Pekka Haavisto, an independent candidate from the Green left, won 48.4%.
The 55-year-old, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015, will be Finland’s 13th president since the Nordic country gained independence from the Russian Empire in 1917.
On Sunday night, Haavisto admitted defeat after Finnish public broadcaster YLE’s predictions showed a win for Stubb. He congratulated the centre-right opposition at Helsinki City Hall, where candidates and media watched the announcement of the results.
fair and clean racing
The months-long campaign was civil and non-confrontational, in keeping with Finland’s consensus-driven politics, with no attacks from below by any of the candidates, Stubb noted in his speech to Haavisto.
“This was a fair and great race,” Stubb told Haavist after the clear result. “I am proud to have run alongside you in this election. Thank you for a good race.”
Mr. Stubbe and Mr. Haavisto are the leading candidates in an election in which more than 4 million voters will choose a successor to the hugely popular President Sauli Niinistö, whose second six-year term expires in March. Ta. He was not eligible for re-election.
Sunday’s runoff election comes after none of the original nine candidates received a majority of votes in the first round of voting on January 28. At this point, Mr. Stubbe came first with 27.3% of the votes, followed by Mr. Hervist with 25.8%.
Several opinion polls have shown Stubb, who also served as Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance and European Affairs, to be the frontrunner for the presidential nomination.
Voter turnout for the first time was 70.7%, significantly lower than 75% for the first round.
Foreign and security policy is the top priority
Unlike most European countries, the Finnish president holds executive powers, working with the government to develop foreign and security policy, particularly regarding countries outside the European Union, such as the United States, Russia, and China.
Mr Stubbe and Mr Haavisto largely agreed on Finland’s foreign policy and security priorities during the election period. These include maintaining a hard line against Russia and its current leadership, strengthening security ties with Washington, and the need to support Ukraine at both military and civilian levels. Finland shares a 1,340 km border with Russia.
The head of state also commands the military. This is an important detail that illustrates the current security environment in Europe and the changing geopolitical situation for Finland, which joined NATO in April 2023 in the aftermath of Russia’s attack on Ukraine the previous year.
The Finnish president is expected to distance himself from day-to-day politics and have little involvement in domestic political disputes.
“A new powerful asset”
Most European leaders have congratulated Stubb on his election victory, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who wrote on And with our contribution to Europe, our EU has acquired a powerful new asset.”
EU Council President Charles Michel also emphasized that Mr. Stubb’s “experience and leadership” were “an asset in strengthening our common foreign and security policy in these difficult times.”
Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of neighboring Sweden, offered his “warm congratulations” and added: “I look forward to our cooperation and to seeing you in Sweden soon.”