Stubb vs Haavisto: Finland’s former premier to face diplomat in presidential run-off
- Alexander Stubb and Pekka Haavisto head to second round following Sunday vote
- Newest Nato member Finland is electing a new president amid tensions with Russia
Finland’s presidential race saw former prime minister Alexander Stubb and previous foreign minister Pekka Haavisto barrel past other candidates to face each other in a run-off in two weeks.
Stubb took home about 27 per cent of the votes, followed by Haavisto with about 26 per cent, the Justice Ministry said on Sunday. Almost 75 per cent of the electorate cast a ballot, the biggest turnout in nearly two decades.
Voters in Nato’s newest member are selecting a top diplomat and supreme commander for the defence forces to guard the military alliance’s longest stretch of border against its main adversary, Russia.
At stake is who will succeed President Sauli Niinisto, 75, as he is no longer eligible to run after serving two consecutive six-year terms. The one seen as the most adept at steering foreign and security policy will likely appeal to the electorate.
The president’s role in leading Finland’s foreign policy grew in significance during Niinisto’s second term after Russia’s unexpected all-out invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, which fundamentally altered Europe’s security calculus.