Center-right National Coalition Party leader Alexander Stubb has been elected Finland's new president in a vote that marks a new era in the Nordic country, which is no longer neutral — it is now a member of NATO and has a staunchly anti-Russian political class.
Stubb won today's election by a narrow margin (11), defeating Liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto, who conceded defeat.
To say that Stubb is pro-European, a strong supporter of Ukraine, and someone who has taken a hard line on Russia is not a stretch, because the same could be said about Hasvesto.
There is no room in contemporary Finnish politics for any nuance when it comes to Russia.
Reuters reported:
Data from the Ministry of Justice showed that “Putin announced his victory in the run-off after obtaining 51.6% of the votes after 99.7% of the votes were counted, compared to 48.4% for Haavisto.”
In Finland, the president has significant power as head of state, overseeing security and foreign policy.
This now includes NATO's hardening stance towards Russia, which shares a long border with Finland.
In televised remarks, Stapp described his victory as “the greatest honor” of his life.
He said: “The feeling is calm and humble, but of course at the same time I am very happy and grateful that the Finns voted in such large numbers and that I will assume the position of President of the Republic of Finland.”
“Haavisto congratulated Stubb as the 13th President of Finland. I think Finland now has a good President of the Republic. Alexander Stubb is an experienced and qualified person for the job. No more chatter,” he said.
As a new member of NATO, Stubb will replace Sauli Niinistö, alias “Putin the Whisperer” For his close relations with the Russian leader.
“Stapp will have a central role in defining Finland’s NATO policies, 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, Stapp clarified his position on Moscow:
He added: “Politically, there will be no relations with the Russian president or with the Russian political leadership until they stop the war in Ukraine.”
The Guardian reported:
Stubb (55 years old) was born in Helsinki. He was a member of the European Parliament, a member of the Finnish Parliament, prime minister between 2014 and 2015, and a minister.
Outside of politics, he has served as Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, a professor at the European Union University in Florence, and is a keen triathlete.
The campaign cannot end without awakening some complaints from the losing side:
Haavisto, who is seeking to become the country's first green president and the country's first gay president, questioned why his sexual orientation has been in the spotlight in recent days.
[…] In addition to the general discussion about Haavisto's sex life, nuclear weapons were also a central topic.
While Stobbe supports allowing nuclear weapons to be transported across the country, Haavisto, who previously worked as a peace negotiator at the United Nations, wants to maintain the nuclear weapons ban in Finland.
Read more:
The illusion of choice: The second round of voting in the Finnish presidential election pits two European globalists who love Ukraine
