The leader of the centre-right National Coalition Party, Alexander Stubb, has been elected as Finland’s new president in a vote that marks a new era in the Nordic country, no longer neutral, but now a member of NATO with a fiercely anti-Russian political class.
Stubb narrowly won today’s election (11), defeating liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto, who conceded defeat.
To say that Stubb is pro-European, a strong supporter of Ukraine and that he has taken a tough stance on Russia is not much, because the same could be said of Haasvisto.
There is no room in contemporary Finnish politics for any nuance when it comes to Russia.
Reuters reported:
“He declared himself the winner in the runoff after securing 51.6% of the vote as 99.7% of ballots had been counted, versus Haavisto’s 48.4%, Justice Ministry data shows.”
In Finland, the president has significant power as head of state, overseeing security and foreign policy.
This now includes NATO’s hard line towards Russia, which shares a long border with Finland.
In a televised speech, Stubb called his victory “the greatest honor” of his life.
“’The feeling is calm, humble but of course at the same time I am extremely happy and grateful that Finns voted in such large numbers and that I can serve as president of the Republic of Finland,’ he said.”
“Haavisto congratulated Stubb as the thirteenth president of Finland. «I believe that now Finland will have a good president for the republic. Alexander Stubb is an experienced and competent person for the job. Enough chatter, “he said.”
As the new member of NATO, Stubb will replace the nicknamed Sauli Niinisto “Putin’s Whisperer” for his close ties with the Russian leader.
“Stubb will have a central role in shaping Finland’s NATO policies, while taking the lead on overall foreign and security policy in close cooperation with the government and acting as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.”
Last month Stubb explained his position on Moscow:
“Politically there will be no dealings with the president of Russia or the Russian political leadership until they stop the war in Ukraine.”
The Guardian reported:
“Stubb, 55, was born in Helsinki and has been an MEP, a member of the Finnish parliament, prime minister from 2014 to 2015 and a minister.
Outside of politics he has worked as Vice President of the European Investment Bank and as a professor at the University of the EU in Florence, and is a keen triathlete.”
The campaign could not end without some complaints from the losing side:
“Haavisto, bidding to become the country’s first green and first gay president, questioned why his sexuality had been in the spotlight in recent days.
[…] In addition to the public debate over Haavisto’s sexuality, nuclear weapons were also a central topic.
While Stubb is in favor of allowing nuclear weapons to be transported through the country, Haavisto, who previously worked as a UN peace negotiator, wants to maintain the ban on nuclear weapons in Finland.”
To know more:
ILLUSION OF CHOICE: The second round of voting in the Finnish presidential election pits two Eurocentric globalists who love Ukraine