Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb emerged victorious in the final round of the Finnish presidential election held on Sunday after a close contest between former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and two experienced politicians for the post of head of state. . According to the Associated Press, his primary role will be to steer the foreign and security policy of Northern Europe, which became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With over 99% of the votes counted, Mr. Stubb, the centre-right candidate from the conservative National Union, won 51.6% of the votes, and Mr. Harvist, the independent candidate from the Green Party, won 48.4%.
Stubbe, 55, who served as Prime Minister from 2014 to 2015 and began his political career as a member of the European Parliament, will be Finland’s 13th president since independence from the Russian Empire in 1917. Haavisto later admitted defeat. Predictions by Finnish public broadcaster YLE indicate a victory for Stubb. At Helsinki City Hall, where candidates and the media were watching the announcement of the results, he shook Mr. Stubb’s hand and congratulated him. Mr. Stubbe and Mr. Havisto, 65, were the leading candidates in an election in which more than 4 million voters chose Mr. Havisto’s successor, who is hugely popular. President Sauli Niinistö, whose second six-year term expires in March. He was not eligible for re-election.
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