A presidential election was held in Finland, a Nordic country that joined NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 2023, and all nine candidates took a hard-line stance against neighboring Russia, which continues to invade Ukraine militarily. No candidate received the majority needed to win, and a runoff election between the top two candidates will be held in February.
Finland changed its policy of military neutrality in response to neighboring Russia's invasion of Ukraine and joined NATO in April last year.
An election was held in Finland on the 28th to elect a president who will oversee military and foreign policy.
In the election campaign, all nine candidates advocated a hard-line stance against Russia, and according to the Finnish Ministry of Justice, former Prime
Minister Stub of the center-right ruling party National Union, who is claiming to succeed the incumbent, won the most votes at 27.2%. The majority
was followed by former Foreign Minister Haavisto of the center-left opposition Green Party, who lost the past two elections, with 25.8%.
As no candidate received the majority of valid votes needed to win, a run-off election between Mr. Stub and Mr. Haavist will be held on February 11th.
Finland, which shares an approximately 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, has been on alert since last summer, with border checkpoints closed on suspicion that Russia was sending asylum seekers from other countries with the purpose of causing chaos. It is expected that whoever becomes president will strengthen military ties with the West.