In the first round of Finland's presidential election, centre-right candidate Alexander Stubb, from the National Coalition Party, appears to be leading the race. With 96% of votes counted, Stubb is in the lead with 27.1% support, followed closely by Pekka Haavisto from the liberal Green Party with 25.7% support. Nationalist candidate Jussi Halla-aho is in third place with 19.0% support. It is expected that Stubb and Haavisto will face each other in the runoff election scheduled for February 11.
This election is particularly significant as Finland has recently joined NATO, breaking with its long-standing non-alignment policy, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The new president will have the responsibility of leading the country's foreign and security policy in close collaboration with the government, as well as representing Finland at NATO meetings and acting as the commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defense Forces.
All three top candidates in the race are supporters of Ukraine and have called for strong measures against Russia. During their campaigns, both Stubb and Haavisto positioned themselves in the political center, while Halla-aho maintained his right-wing conservative stance. However, Halla-aho is a divisive figure in Finland, attracting both loyal supporters and strong opponents.
For many Finnish voters, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has made this election particularly important. One voter, Leena Boksha, emphasized the need for a strong leader in foreign policy during these challenging times. She believes that Stubb, known for his cosmopolitan and pro-European approach, would be the most suitable candidate for the role.
On the other hand, Jere Markkinen, a student in mechanical engineering, expressed his preference for Haavisto. He appreciates Haavisto's experience in foreign politics and his reputation for making intelligent decisions, contrasting his view with his perceived lack of representation from Stubb.
Finland's recent admission to NATO drew threats of retaliatory measures from Russia, its much larger neighbor. In response to an increase in migrants attempting to cross the border, Finland closed its entire border with Russia to passenger traffic in December. Moscow denied the Finnish accusations of involvement in the migrant situation.
As the race moves into the second round, all eyes will be on Stubb and Haavisto. The outcome of the runoff election will determine who will step into the role of Finland's president and shape the country's foreign policy in the face of ongoing global challenges.