Centre-right Stubb Wins Tight Finnish Presidential Election, Reports Reuters

By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto

HELSINKI – Alexander Stubb of the centre-right National Coalition Party has narrowly won Finland’s presidential election, defeating liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto, who has conceded.

Stubb, a staunch supporter of Europe and Ukraine, has adopted a firm stance towards Russia. He claimed victory in the run-off vote with 51.6% of the votes counted, while Haavisto received 48.4%, according to justice ministry data.

As the new head of state, Stubb will oversee Finland’s security and foreign policy, including the country’s approach to NATO membership and its relationship with Russia, which shares a lengthy border with Finland.

In his first public remarks, Stubb referred to his victory as "the greatest honour" of his life. "I feel calm, humble and, of course, extremely happy and grateful that so many Finns have voted, giving me the opportunity to serve as president," he stated.

Previously a prime minister, Stubb emerged victorious in the first round on January 28, securing 27.2% of the vote compared to Haavisto’s 25.8%. He also consistently led Haavisto in opinion polls, typically by a margin of 6-8 percentage points.

Haavisto congratulated Stubb on becoming "the 13th president of Finland," expressing confidence in Stubb’s competence for the role.

This election marks a significant shift for Finland, a country that had long prioritized diplomatic relations, particularly with Russia, and refrained from joining military alliances to mitigate tensions with NATO. However, public sentiment changed dramatically following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, propelling Finland into NATO membership in April of the following year.

With the security backing of NATO, Stubb will succeed Sauli Niinisto, who is stepping down after two six-year terms during which he earned the nickname "the Putin Whisperer" for his close associations with the Russian leader.

Stubb’s role will be pivotal in shaping Finland’s NATO policies and overall foreign and security strategies, coordinating closely with the government and serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson extended his congratulations to Stubb, highlighting Finland’s importance as a close ally.

Many voters, like Lauri, a 36-year-old IT professional from Helsinki, believe Stubb’s primary challenge will be managing relations with Russia. He noted, "We are clearly facing a significant threat and challenge regarding Russia and the current global turbulence."

In a recent interview, Stubb asserted that there will be no diplomatic relations with Russia’s leadership until the conflict in Ukraine is resolved. He advocates for strong NATO cooperation, including the transport of nuclear weapons through Finnish territory and establishing a permanent presence of NATO troops in Finland, though he is against the storage of nuclear weapons in the country.

Stubb remarked in a debate that "at times, a nuclear weapon is a guarantee of peace." Russia has issued threats of retaliation against Finland in response to its NATO membership and a recent defense cooperation agreement with the United States.