Center-right candidate Alexander Stubb came first in the first round of Finland's presidential election on Sunday, with 27.2% of the votes collected. Finns voted to elect their president, whose role has become more important due to soaring tensions with neighboring Russia since the war in Ukraine.
Published on: 01/28/2024 – 9:08 p.m. Modified on: 01/28/2024 – 11:08 p.m
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Center-right candidate Alexander Stubb of the National Coalition Party of Finland came first in the first round of the presidential election on Sunday, January 28, with 27.2% of the votes cast, according to the counting of almost all ballots on that ballot.
Liberal Pekka Haavisto, a member of the Green Party, came in second with 25.8% of the vote, followed by Jussi Halla-aho, a member of the Finnish Nationalist Party, with 19% of the vote.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in Sunday's election, a second round of voting between the two top candidates will take place on February 11th.
Finland is electing a new president to lead its foreign and security policy in its new role within NATO after breaking decades of non-alignment and joining the alliance in response to Ukraine's invasion of Ukraine. Russia.
Also read: Closing the Finnish border: “The Russian propaganda machine wants to stoke fear”
“It's much more than I dared hope for. I am very happy and grateful,” Alexander Stubb, former prime minister, told public broadcaster Yle. “No matter which candidate I face in the second round, I know we will have a constructive, civilized and high-quality debate on difficult foreign policy issues.”
Pekka Haavisto, who was foreign minister until last year, said: “The differences will become clearer as the campaign progresses.”
The President of Finland directs foreign and security policy in close cooperation with the government, represents the country at NATO meetings, and simultaneously serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Armed Forces.
All three leading candidates are supporters of Ukraine and have called for tough measures against Russia.
Finland's entry into NATO last year sparked threats of “countermeasures” from Russia, which saw the country close its border to entry in December in response to an influx of migrants attempting to cross.
With AFP