As of: January 29, 2024, 1:29 p.m
By: Nils Hinsberger
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Press
Split
Alexander Stubb is ahead after the first round of voting.
A playoff between him and the Green candidate is pending.
What defines the conservative?
Helsinki – The first round of presidential elections in Finland is over.
However, there is no clear result yet - although former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb is in the lead.
At 27.2 percent, only a very thin lead separates him from his opponent and Green Party politician Pekka Haavisto, reports the
Tagesschau
.
Haavisto received 25.8 percent of all votes.
Jussi Halla-aho from the Finnish Nationalist Party took third place with 19 percent.
Now a runoff election will decide between Stubb and Haavisto.
The fact that Stubb even wants to hold political office again is quite surprising.
Over the past seven years, the head of the conservative coalition party has withdrawn from politics.
After leaving his ministerial post in 2017, he said he would retire from politics completely,
Politico
reports .
Where does the big support come from now?
Stubb's success in the Finnish elections could be due to his easy-going nature
“The poll results are looking good right now, I’m not denying that,” Stubb said in an interview with
Politico
.
But he also knows that this can change quickly.
Stubb was appointed Prime Minister in 2014.
Previously, he was, among other things, Finance Minister of Finland since 2008.
During his political career, he is said to have attracted particular attention because of his rather unusual behavior - his relaxed style earned him a lot of popularity.
Alexander Stubb (R.) with the Finnish Prime Minister Orpo.
Stubb is considered the favorite in the elections in Finland – and an unorthodox politician.
© Vesa Moilanen/IMAGO
However, critics would accuse him of being unprofessional.
The fact that he occasionally wore shorts or was said to have sworn at a meeting of the Nordic Council was the trigger for this.
The Nordic Council is a forum of Nordic countries such as Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland that aims to improve intergovernmental relations.
During a television appearance, Stubb also had himself tied to a target and shot with foam darts.
The images of this media stunt are said to still haunt him today, writes
Politico
.
However, many people seem to like the conservative's relaxed manner.
In contrast to his time as prime minister, Stubb is also much more humble, which analysts say contributes to his success.
On top of that, his collegial approach to political opponents would be well received.
“He started his campaign with a charm offensive, saying mostly nice and flattering things about the other candidates,” said Finnish political scientist Teivo Teivainen.
Did the Ukraine War cause Stubbs to return to politics?
After his retirement from politics, the plan was actually “something different,” said Stubb.
“Russia’s attack on Ukraine changed my mind.”
The Ukraine war particularly affects Finland because the country shares a border thousands of kilometers long with Russia.
Last year, Finland closed its borders to Russia, partly because of fears of retaliation from Vladimir Putin over Finland's accession to NATO.
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It is not yet clear how Stubb will deal with the situation in the Ukraine war as president.
Some citizens fear that the nature of the chief conservative could have a negative impact.
“Stubb is more of a man of action,” Lasse Seppanen, a gaming executive, told
Politico
.
He was concerned that Stubb could divide the population with this.
Meanwhile, Stubb is campaigning heavily.
In the past few weeks he has traveled around the country and appeared at up to ten campaign events a day.
Including numerous speeches, debates and TV appearances.
He doesn't seem to mind the stress of the campaign.
He told
Politico
that he viewed the campaign as an “endurance sport.”
(nhi)