There were no changes in the election landscape as Finns backed two seasoned politicians. Conservative Alexander Stubb and Green Party member Pekka Haavisto will compete for the presidency. A year after the far right joined Helsinki’s government under presidential candidate Jussi Halla-aho, he finished third in the first round and was eliminated in the final. The vote is scheduled for February 11.
According to results released after schools closed, Stubb led with 28 percent while Haavisto followed with 25 percent. Halla-aho trailed significantly at 16.2 percent. These figures reflect about 60 percent of ballots, a share influenced by a high turnout from early voting tracked under Finland’s system.
Between Stubb and Haavisto, the candidate who will become the country’s next president will be chosen. Finland has joined NATO and will replace outgoing President Sauli Niinistö after twelve years, personally conducting the negotiations related to Finland’s NATO membership. Niinistö’s shift toward NATO brought him close to long-standing friends in the security circle, even as President Putin publicly urged a cautious approach. The invasion of Ukraine catalyzed broad public and parliamentary support for NATO alignment, ending Finland’s Cold War neutrality and accelerating the alliance’s expansion.
As president, the office also includes the role of commander in chief of the armed forces. The new president will determine the scope of the country’s NATO commitments, including potential deployment of allied troops on Finnish soil.
The second round is set for February 11. In the interim, Finland faces a potential strike wave that could disrupt air travel and other aspects of public life. Dissatisfaction has grown with the austerity measures pursued by the conservative government led by Petteri Orpo, who took power last year with a far-right coalition supported by the Real Finns party.
Severance, conservative or green version
Stubb, 55, is a prominent Finnish politician who has held multiple ministerial roles, including European affairs, and served as prime minister. He shares a religious conservatism with Orpo, the current prime minister, and has previously fought for influence within his party. Orpo’s 2023 parliamentary victory, defeating then-prime minister Marin, has propelled Stubb back into the spotlight after years away from the core leadership circle, during which time he focused on broader European political work. The upheaval under Orpo’s far-right coalition has sparked internal party tensions and occasional upheavals within the coalition.
Haavisto, 65, is a founding member of the Greens and has spent his career in environmental advocacy and diplomacy. He presents himself as an independent candidate seeking to broaden electoral choices. To date, no Green candidate has won the presidency.
Haavisto is highly regarded for his work as Foreign Minister in the government led by Social Democrat Sanna Marin. Finland’s rapid path to NATO membership accompanied similar efforts by Sweden, which also sought alliance membership in response to the Ukraine crisis, though Sweden had not concluded its process yet.
This marks Haavisto’s third run for the presidency. If he secures the post, he would become the second openly gay EU head of state, following Latvia’s Edgars Rinkēvičs. Haavisto is married to Antonio Flores, an Ecuadorian who runs a central Helsinki hair salon, a detail that has occasionally drawn media attention.
Related posts:
Finland Presidential Runoff: Stubb vs Haavisto in a Nation’s Security Crossroads Finland Elects Stubb: NATO, Security, and a New Presidency Finland’s presidential race: national defense, alliances, and uncertainty ahead Alexander Stubb’s Finnish Presidency: Inauguration and Security Policy Focus Finnish Presidential Race: Stubb Edges Haavisto in Second Round as Early Voting Sets Records Finland’s Second-Round Presidential Vote: Stubb Leads as Early Results Signal Clear Direction Shifting Finland: NATO Ties, Neutrality, and the presidential outcome Finland’s Stubb on Russia ties and Ukraine conflict stance Finland’s Presidential Race: Early Results, Key Contenders, and Security Focus Finland’s Leadership Transition Sparks Discussion on Security and Diplomacy Finnish politics, Russian tensions, and the Stubb factor Finland and Sweden Join NATO: A Shift in European Security Dynamics