Stubb and Haavisto Advance to Second Round in Finland’s Presidential Race, Reports Reuters

By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto

HELSINKI – Alexander Stubb, the centre-right candidate from Finland’s National Coalition Party, narrowly secured victory in the first round of the country’s presidential election on Sunday. He will compete against Pekka Haavisto, a member of the liberal Green Party, in the upcoming run-off, according to official results.

After all votes were counted, Stubb garnered 27.2% of the support, while Haavisto followed closely with 25.8%. Nationalist candidate Jussi Halla-aho received 19.0%, placing him third. The runoff is set to take place on February 11.

Finland is in the process of electing a new president to guide its foreign and security policy, particularly in light of its recent accession to NATO, which marked a shift from decades of non-alignment amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“We made it to the final, but the competition is just beginning,” Stubb, a former prime minister, stated to his supporters.

Haavisto, also a former foreign minister, is recognized for his work as a human rights advocate and peace negotiator. If elected, he would be Finland’s first openly gay president.

“Now our task is to connect with those whose candidate did not advance to the second round,” Haavisto expressed to his supporters.

Voter turnout was reported at 74.9%, an increase from 69.9% in the previous presidential election in 2018.

In Finland, the president plays a crucial role in shaping foreign and security policy along with the government, representing the country at NATO meetings, and serving as commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defence Forces. The newly elected president will succeed Sauli Niinisto, who is retiring after serving two consecutive six-year terms.

Both Stubb and Haavisto have been vocal supporters of Ukraine and have advocated for stringent measures against Russia. Throughout their campaigns, both candidates aimed to appeal to centrist voters, while Halla-aho maintained a more right-wing conservative stance.

In Helsinki, Leena Boksha, a 26-year-old advance voter, emphasized the importance of participating this election cycle due to the impact of the war in Ukraine. She expressed her support for Stubb, viewing him as a cosmopolitan leader adept at navigating international relations.

Conversely, 22-year-old mechanical engineering student Jere Markkinen voiced his concerns about Stubb’s leadership, suggesting he prioritizes personal representation over the people’s needs. He stated his preference for Haavisto, praising his experience in foreign affairs.

Finland’s entry into NATO last year resulted in threats from Russia of “counter measures.” In response to increasing migrant crossings, Finland completely closed its border with Russia to passenger traffic in December, a claim Moscow denied.

Stubb, 55, identifies as a pro-European fiscal conservative, describing himself as “moderate.” He envisions the next president as not just Finland’s first NATO president, but also as a leader aligned with Western values, seeking closer ties with the U.S., the UK, and Nordic neighbors.

Haavisto, who previously finished second to Niinisto in both 2012 and 2018 elections, was leading in polls for several months before the narrative shifted in December.

Political analysts have noted that candidates have increasingly pushed for tougher stances against Russia, a trend that may not benefit Haavisto, known for his left-leaning liberal ideals. Joana Vuorelma, a political scientist at the University of Helsinki, indicated that the current climate favours right-wing conservatives over left-wing liberals and highlighted the pressure on candidates like Haavisto to adopt harsher positions to appear credible in this context.