Centre-right Nationwide Coalition Occasion chief Alexander Stubb has been elected the brand new President of Finland in a vote that marks a brand new period within the Nordic nation, not impartial – now a NATO member with a fiercely anti-Russian political class.
Stubb narrowly gained the election in the present day (11), defeating liberal Inexperienced Occasion member Pekka Haavisto, who has conceded defeat.
To say that Stubb is pro-European, a powerful supporter of Ukraine, and somebody who has taken a troublesome stance in the direction of Russia shouldn’t be a lot, as a result of the identical may very well be stated about Haasvisto.
There isn’t any house in up to date Finnish politics for any nuance relating to Russia.
Reuters reported:
“He declared himself winner in the run-off vote after securing 51.6% of the votes as 99.7% of ballots had been counted, against Haavisto’s 48.4%, justice ministry data showed.”
In Finland, the President has vital energy as head of state, overseeing safety and international coverage.
This now contains the NATO hard-line stance in the direction of Russia, which shares a protracted border with Finland.
In televised remarks, Stubb known as 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 the Finns in such large numbers have voted and that I get to serve as president of the Republic of Finland’, he said.”
“Haavisto congratulated Stubb as the 13th president of Finland. ‘I believe Finland now gets a good president for the republic. Alexander Stubb is an experienced, competent person for the job. No more babble’, he said.”
As a brand new member of NATO, Stubb will exchange Sauli Niinisto, nicknamed ‘Putin Whisperer’ for his shut ties with the Russian chief.
“Stubb will have a central role in defining 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.”
Final month, Stubb defined his stance on Moscow:
“Politically, there will be no relations with the president of Russia or with the Russian political leadership until they stop the war in Ukraine.”
The Guardian reported:
“Stubb, 55, was born in Helsinki and has been a member of the European parliament, a member of Finland’s parliament, prime minister between 2014 and 2015, and a minister.
Outdoors politics he has labored as vice-president of the European Funding Financial institution and as a professor on the EU College in Florence, and is a eager triathlete.”
The marketing campaign couldn’t finish with out some woke complaints from the shedding aspect:
“Haavisto, bidding to be the nation’s first Inexperienced and first homosexual president questioned why his sexuality had been within the highlight in current days.
[…] In addition to public debate of Haavisto’s sexuality, nuclear weapons had been additionally a central matter.
Whereas Stubb is in favour of permitting nuclear weapons to be transported via the nation, Haavisto, who beforehand labored as a UN peace negotiator, needs to keep up Finland’s nuclear weapons ban.”
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