Stubb and Haavisto to Face Off in Finnish Presidential Election Runoff

Both Candidates Share Similar Views on Foreign Policy Amid New Geopolitical Landscape

Alexander Stubb, former Prime Minister and representative of the conservative National Coalition Party, won the first round of the Finnish presidential election with 27.2% of votes.
Pekka Haavisto, former Foreign Minister and green politician, received 25.8% of votes and will face Stubb in a runoff election on February 11.
Both candidates have similar views on Finland’s current foreign policy issues, including relations with neighboring Russia and providing aid to war-torn Ukraine.
Finland's new president will face a markedly different geopolitical and security situation in Europe, as Finland recently joined NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Initial voter turnout was 74.9% of about 4.5 million eligible voters.