Alexander Stubb Set to Become Finland’s Next President in Runoff Election
Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb is poised to become Finland’s next president, as the results of Sunday’s runoff election indicate a clear victory for him. Stubb’s rival, Green party lawmaker Pekka Haavisto, who ran as an independent candidate, acknowledged the defeat as the nearly-complete results favored Stubb. With approximately 90% of the votes counted, Stubb secured 52.3% of the support, while Haavisto trailed at 47.9%. The margin between the two candidates remained relatively stable throughout the counting process.
Foreign policy played a crucial role in this election, with both candidates being former Finnish foreign ministers. Finland has been seeking to reorient its security policy following years of non-alignment. In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland applied for NATO membership and officially became a member of the alliance in April of the following year. However, this push towards NATO has drawn threats of “countermeasures” from Russia, given the shared border of 1,340 kilometers (830 miles) between the two countries.
Both Stubb and Haavisto expressed strong support for Ukraine and called for increased sanctions against Moscow during their campaigns. Haavisto emphasized that the European Union should do more to assist Ukraine, while Stubb echoed the sentiment, stating that Kyiv deserves all the support possible in their fight for European freedom. However, the candidates differed in their stance on NATO’s defense strategy. Haavisto opposed permanent NATO troop deployment in Finland and advocated for maintaining the country’s strict ban on nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Stubb called for the permanent presence of troops and suggested allowing nuclear weapons to be transported through Finland, although not stored permanently.
Looking ahead, Stubb, who held a consistent lead over Haavisto in the polls and emerged victorious in the first-round vote, has made it clear that there will be no relations with the president of Russia or the Russian political leadership until the war in Ukraine ceases. While Russia’s official response to Finland’s NATO membership has been relatively muted, Finland experienced a significant influx of migrants crossing the border from Russia last summer. Helsinki alleges that these migrants were sent by the Kremlin to destabilize the new NATO member, prompting Finnish officials to temporarily close the border in November.
In conclusion, Alexander Stubb’s victory in Finland’s presidential runoff election marks a significant moment for the country’s foreign policy and security orientation. With his strong support for Ukraine and willingness to engage with NATO, Stubb is poised to steer Finland towards a more aligned position with Western allies. However, challenges lie ahead, particularly in managing relations with Russia and addressing the issue of migrants crossing the border. As Finland’s 13th president, Stubb will undoubtedly face these challenges head-on and shape the country’s future trajectory on the international stage.