Finland’s presidential election is taking place on Sunday, with the country’s first new head of state in 12 years set to take over after the popular president, Sauli Niinistö, finishes his term. Mr. Niinistö, widely lauded for his instrumental role in getting Finland into the NATO alliance, is ineligible to run again. From a field of nine candidates, the latest polls show two front-runners: Alexander Stubb and Pekka Haavisto. Analysts believe the election will require a runoff on Feb. 11. Security and foreign policy are top concerns for voters, given Finland’s history with Russia, and are expected to heavily influence the election results. Both Stubb and Haavisto have strong foreign policy credentials and agree on most foreign policy matters, including NATO membership and handling Moscow. The candidates’ personalities are likely to sway voters, with both men casting themselves as unifiers during the campaign. Election results are expected later Sunday, with more than 1.8 million Finns, or 44 percent of the country’s eligible voters, already casting their ballots in early voting. Voter turnout in Finland has tended to be around or above 70 percent for presidential elections.
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Finland Decides on New President – The New York Times
