Finland Election: Former PM Alexander Stubb Wins 1st Round of Presidential Race, Candidates Continue to 2nd Round

In the first round of Finland's presidential election, Alexander Stubb emerged as the frontrunner, securing the most votes. However, his narrow lead over Pekka Haavisto means that a runoff will be necessary next month.

The former Finnish politician, who retired from politics in 2017 and made a firm commitment to never come back, is being widely regarded as a frontrunner in the upcoming election, facing tough competition from the independent candidate representing the leftist Green Party.

FINLAND-PRESIDENT-VOTE — Finnish former prime minister and candidate of the National Coalition Party NCP Alexander Stubb reacts as early projections were announced an election reception in Helsinki, Finland, during the first round of the presidential election, on January 28, 2024. Finns went to the polls to elect a new president, an office whose importance has grown on increased tensions with neighbouring Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. While the president's powers are limited, the head of state -- who also acts as supreme commander of Finland's armed forces -- helps direct foreign policy in collaboration with the government, meaning the changing geopolitical landscape in Europe will be the main concern for the winner. MARKKU ULANDER/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images

The vote occurs in the midst of heightened tensions with Russia, following Finland's NATO membership and the closure of its eastern border. These developments were once considered highly unlikely.

According to election officials, former prime minister Stubb received 27.1 percent of the votes, while the former foreign minister Haavisto secured 25.8 percent. More than 99 percent of the votes have been counted.

The Finnish public broadcaster YLE previously predicted that Stubb would emerge as the frontrunner in the first round of the presidential election, securing 27.3 percent of the votes. Meanwhile, Haavisto, a former foreign minister, is expected to secure second place with 25.8 percent.

Stubb, 55, and Haavisto, 65, emerged as the top candidates in the election, which saw approximately 4.5 million eligible voters selecting a new president to succeed the widely admired President Sauli Niinistö, whose second term concludes in March. He was not eligible for reelection, as per Daily Mail.

In contrast to many European countries, the president of Finland wields significant executive power in shaping foreign and security policy, especially in relation to non-European Union nations such as the United States, Russia, and China.

In Europe's current security environment, the president's role as the supreme commander of the Finnish military is of utmost importance. Voting in various locations concluded at 8pm (1800 GMT). Approximately 4.5 million citizens had the opportunity to cast their votes for Finland's new head of state.

The pool of candidates consisted of nine individuals, including six men and three women. A successor is being chosen for the highly popular President Sauli Niinistö, whose second six-year term will end in March. It is anticipated that no candidate will secure more than 50 percent of the vote in Sunday's initial round of voting, resulting in a runoff on February 11.

Stubb, a member of the conservative National Coalition Party, previously served as the head of the Finnish government from 2014 to 2015. Haavisto, a seasoned politician and former UN diplomat, is running for the post for the third time. Both candidates are expected to receive between 23-27 per cent of the votes.

Parliamentary speaker and former leader of the far-right Finns Party, Jussi Halla-aho, has garnered approximately 18 percent of the votes, placing him in second position. Olli Rehn, the Bank of Finland governor and former EU commissioner, was anticipated to secure approximately 14 percent of the votes.

The outcome of the early voting, which saw a significant turnout of over 40 percent of eligible voters, was promptly released after the polls closed. The results revealed that Stubb emerged as the frontrunner with 28.3 percent of the votes, closely followed by Haavisto with 25.8 percent and Halla-aho with 16.2 percent.

Finland Election 2024

A new president is set to assume responsibility for Finland's foreign and security policy, taking over from the retiring incumbent, Sauli Niinisto, who has served two consecutive six-year terms. Both Stubb and Haavisto have expressed their support for Ukraine and have advocated for strong actions against Russia.

During their electoral campaigns, Stubb and Haavisto adopted a more centrist approach, while Halla-aho remained committed to his right-wing conservative stance.Last year, the Nordic country's entry into NATO prompted its significantly larger neighbor to issue warnings of "counter measures."

In December, Finland took the decision to close its entire border with Russia to passenger traffic due to a significant increase in migrants attempting to cross. Moscow refuted the allegations made by Finland regarding the transportation of migrants.

According to Stubb, the upcoming president would not only be the first Finnish NATO president, but would also have a Western approach in various aspects. Stubb emphasized the importance of aligning with countries like the US, the UK, and Finland's Nordic neighbors in terms of foreign policy, Reuters reported.