HELSINKI: Finns head to the polls on Sunday (Jan 28) to elect a brand new president, an workplace whose significance has grown following elevated tensions with neighbouring Russia for the reason that invasion of Ukraine.
Whereas the president’s powers are restricted, the top of state – who additionally acts as supreme commander of Finland’s armed forces – helps direct international coverage in collaboration with the federal government, which means the altering geopolitical panorama in Europe would be the predominant concern for the winner.
Two prime politicians lead the pack of 9 candidates: former conservative prime minister Alexander Stubb, and ex-foreign minister Pekka Haavisto of the Inexperienced Occasion who’s working as an impartial.
Simply behind the frontrunners are far-right Finns Occasion candidate Jussi Halla-aho, who consultants consider may additionally make it to the second spherical.
Polls open at 9am native time and shut at 8pm.
Relations between Moscow and Helsinki deteriorated following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prompting Finland to drop a long time of army non-alignment and be part of NATO in April 2023.
Russia, with whom Finland shares a 1,340km border, swiftly warned of “countermeasures”.
INDEPENDENT AND ALLY
A number of months later, in August 2023, Finland noticed an inflow of migrants coming into by means of its japanese border with out visas.
Helsinki claimed Moscow was pushing the migrants in a hybrid assault to destabilise it, and Finland closed its japanese border in November.
“We’re in a state of affairs now the place Russia and particularly Vladimir Putin is utilizing people as a weapon,” Stubb mentioned Thursday night throughout the closing televised debate.
“It is a migrant problem, it is a ruthless, cynical measure. And in that case now we have to place Finland’s safety first,” he added.
Foremost rival Haavisto harassed that Finland needed to “ship Russia a really clear message that this could’t go on”.
Within the post-Chilly Conflict interval, Helsinki maintained an excellent relationship with Moscow.
Incumbent President Sauli Niinisto – who’s stepping down after serving two six-year phrases – as soon as prided himself on his shut ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier than turning into certainly one of his most trenchant critics.
In opposition to this backdrop, all of the presidential candidates champion each Finland’s independence and its new function as a NATO member, mentioned Hanna Wass, vice dean on the College of Social Science on the College of Helsinki.
“All of them appear to have a robust concept emphasising self-sufficiency, in that sooner or later Finland needs to be in control of its defence independently and likewise be an energetic contributor in constructing a shared European defence and Nordic cooperation,” Wass advised AFP.
With comparable stances, the election will probably be extra concerning the personalities of the candidates, in line with Tuomas Forsberg, professor of international coverage on the College of Tampere.
“This will probably be extra about electing a person, the place you take a look at the individual’s credibility and reliability and perceived qualities as a pacesetter of international coverage,” Forsberg mentioned.
SIMILAR VIEWS
A ballot printed by public broadcaster Yle places Stubb within the lead within the first spherical with 27 per cent of the vote, Haavisto in second place with 23 per cent and Halla-aho with 18 per cent.
Stubb was prime minister of Finland between 2014 and 2015, whereas Pekka Haavisto has held a number of ministerial posts.
“They each have broad expertise in each home and international politics, which voters appear to worth probably the most,” Wass mentioned.
Whereas sharing comparable political opinions, Haavisto and Stubb signify totally different backgrounds, Forsberg famous.
“Their background and values … are seen as fairly totally different as a result of Alex is extra a consultant of the fitting and Haavisto of the left,” he mentioned.
“Even when Haavisto has tried to underline that there’s nothing crimson about him, that he has taken the center highway as a Inexperienced,” Forsberg added.
In a second voting spherical between the 2 – which will probably be held on Feb 11 until a candidate receives greater than 50 per cent – the election debates may very well be decisive, mentioned Forsberg.