Finland elects president amid tensions with Russia

HELSINKI - Finns headed to the polls on Jan 28 to elect a new president, an office whose importance has grown following increased tensions with neighbouring Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.

While the president’s powers are limited, the head of state – who also acts as supreme commander of Finland’s armed forces – helps direct foreign policy in collaboration with the government, meaning the changing geopolitical landscape in Europe will be the main concern for the winner.

Two top politicians lead the pack of nine candidates: former conservative prime minister Alexander Stubb, and former foreign minister Pekka Haavisto of the Green Party, who is running as an independent.

Just behind the front runners is far-right Finns Party candidate Jussi Halla-aho, who experts believe could also make it to the second round.

The polls opened at 9am (3pm Singapore time) and will close at 8pm (2am on Jan 29, Singapore time).

Voter Hannu Kuusitie told AFP the country needs a president with “leadership” and “humanity”.

“Of course, he must also be tough when necessary,” he added.

Relations between Moscow and Helsinki deteriorated following

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine

, prompting Finland to drop decades of military non-alignment and join Nato in April 2023.

Russia, with whom Finland shares a 1,340km border, swiftly warned of “countermeasures”.

Several months later, in August 2023, Finland observed an influx of migrants entering through its eastern border without visas. Helsinki claimed

Moscow was pushing the migrants

in a hybrid attack to destabilise it, and Finland closed its eastern border in November.

“We are in a situation now where Russia and especially Vladimir Putin is using humans as a weapon,” Mr Stubb said on Jan 25 evening during the final televised debate.

“It’s a migrant issue, it’s a ruthless, cynical measure. And in that case, we have to put Finland’s security first,” he added.

His main rival Mr Haavisto stressed that Finland had to “send Russia a very clear message that this can’t go on”.

In the post-Cold War period, Helsinki maintained a good relationship with Moscow.

Incumbent President Sauli Niinisto – who is stepping down after serving two six-year terms – once prided himself on his close ties with Mr Putin, before becoming one of his most trenchant critics.

Against this backdrop, all the presidential candidates champion both Finland’s independence and its new role as a Nato member, said Ms Hanna Wass, vice-dean at the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Helsinki.

“They all seem to have a strong idea emphasising self-sufficiency, in that in the future Finland should be in charge of its defence independently and also be an active contributor in building a shared European defence and Nordic cooperation,” she told AFP.

With similar stances, the election will be more about the personalities of the candidates, according to Professor Tuomas Forsberg, professor of foreign policy at the University of Tampere in Helsinki.

“This will be more about electing an individual, where you look at the person’s credibility and reliability and perceived qualities as a leader of foreign policy,” Prof Forsberg said.

A poll published by public broadcaster Yle puts Mr Stubb in the lead in the first round with 27 per cent of the vote, Mr Haavisto in second place with 23 per cent and Mr Halla-aho with 18 per cent.

Mr Stubb was prime minister of Finland between 2014 and 2015, while Mr Haavisto has held several ministerial posts.

“They both have broad experience in both domestic and foreign politics, which voters seem to value the most,” Ms Wass said.

While sharing similar political views, Mr Haavisto and Mr Stubb represent different backgrounds, Prof Forsberg noted.

“Their background and values... are seen as quite different because Alex is more a representative of the right and Haavisto of the left... even if Haavisto has tried to underline that there is nothing red about him, that he has taken the middle road as a Green,” he added.

In a second voting round between the two – which will be held on Feb 11 unless a candidate receives more than 50 per cent – the election debates could be decisive, said Prof Forsberg. AFP