Finland is at a pivotal moment in its history, about to elect a new president who will not only steer the country’s foreign and security policy, but also command the Finnish Defense Forces. The remaining two candidates are alexander stubbe and Pekka Harvistwhich embodies the country’s pro-European and cosmopolitan spirit and shares a firm position in support of Ukraine.
Presidential Candidate Profile
Mr. Stubb, a former prime minister representing the National United Party, led in the first round and maintained a steady lead in opinion polls, emerging as the front-runner. Stubbe, known for his international outlook, is seen as more conservative and keen to deepen cooperation between Finland and NATO. This could include the delivery of nuclear weapons and the presence of permanent NATO forces in the country.
Meanwhile, Haavisto, a member of the centre-left Green Party and a former foreign minister, is running for president for the third time. If successful, he will go down in history as Finland’s first openly gay president. Mr. Haavisto shares Mr. Stubbe’s international orientation, but disagrees with his opponent on key issues. Haavisto opposes the presence of nuclear weapons on the Finnish mainland and does not see the need for NATO troops permanently stationed in Finland.
Finland’s foreign policy in crisis
These elections come at a time when Finland is poised to reconsider its long-standing non-alignment policy and join NATO following concerns raised by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States and Finland signed a defense cooperation agreement in December, a move that drew criticism from Russia. Regardless of who wins, the new president will have to navigate a delicate geopolitical situation.
Impact on turnout
Nationalist Finnish Party candidate Jussi Halaaho was defeated in the first round, given that the remaining candidates, Stubbe and Haavisto, have similar international positions. This could lead to lower turnout among his supporters. This scenario could influence the election outcome and shape the future trajectory of Finland’s foreign policy.