(Bloomberg) — Finnish presidential candidates alexander stubbeformer Prime Minister, and Pekka Harvistthe former foreign minister and others have cleared the first hurdle in the campaign and will take up the campaign on Monday.
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The two candidates quickly defeated the other candidates and faced off in a runoff two weeks later, with Mr. Stubb receiving about 27% of the votes, followed by Mr. Hervist with about 26%. Three out of four eligible voters cast their ballots, the highest turnout in nearly 20 years.
Mr. Stubb, 55, is likely to win over voters leaning toward conservative values, compared with Mr. Hervist, who may appeal to those who have supported candidates on the left side of the political spectrum. It’s expensive and could lead to an advantage in the second round.
Athletic Stubb invited his supporters for a walk in central Helsinki on Monday afternoon, while Haavisto will be holding a celebration nearby and will soon unveil his campaign bus heading to clubs across the country, where he will perform as DJ Pexi. I’m planning on making a record.
In a vein so far lacking in personal attacks, Stubb told his team on Sunday that he recognized that Finns tend to expect humility from their leaders, and that they should work hard and be humble. He asked them to play fair.
Experts lament that they see little difference between the two candidates, as both Mr. Stubbe and Mr. Haavisto demonstrate continuity with current policies.
“We are very much in agreement on important issues of security policy, such as NATO membership, the Finland-US defense cooperation agreement, and a tough stance on Russia’s borders,” Haavisto, 65, said on Sunday. “It’s not a bad thing that Finns are so united on central issues of foreign policy.”
The issue is who will succeed President Sauli Niinistö (75), who has served two consecutive six-year terms, as he is no longer eligible to run. The person seen as most skilled at steering foreign and security policy is likely to appeal to voters. Voters are choosing the top diplomat and defense commander who will protect NATO’s longest border from Russia, its main enemy.
Read more: Finns vote for new president to face more aggressive Russia
The president’s role in guiding Finland’s foreign policy became more important during Niinistö’s second term, when Russia’s unexpected full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 fundamentally changed Europe’s security calculus. After a radical overhaul, Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization last year.
“For us, foreign and security policy is existential,” Stubbe said Sunday. “In that sense, we’re pretty unified in the big picture, whether it’s NATO membership or things related to that.”
Haavisto said Sunday night that the funds raised so far have been nearly exhausted and called for more donations to shore up his campaign. Mr Stubb will likely get further financial support from the corporate sector.
In the February 11 run-off, Mr Stubb is likely to inherit the vote of Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn, who finished with around 15% support. The 19% who supported Parliament Speaker Jussi Halaaho of the Nationalist Finland Party may not vote at all.
Haavisto could rely on the support of European Commissioner Jutta Ulpilainen and Left Alliance leader Lee Andersson, who had a combined approval rating of around 9%.
Read more: Finland’s former prime minister faces off against diplomat in presidential run-off
–With assistance from Philip Tabuas.
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