Finland to elect new president: From candidates, powers to tensions with Russia, 5 important points to know
Russia and Finland deteriorated following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine which led Finland to join NATO in April 2023. Today's polls will open at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) and close at 8:00 pm. The Results from advance voting will be confirmed soon after polls close on Sunday.
Full results are expected as the vote count progresses. On 30 January, the first-round results will be officially confirmed. The President leads foreign and security policy and represents the country at NATO's meetings.
The president also acts as a commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defence Forces, deciding on any significant changes in military preparedness. The president appoints and discharges ministers, some high-ranking civil servants and Supreme Court judges. At the prime minister's request, the president can, if justified, order an early parliamentary election.
Former conservative prime minister Alexander Stubb, and ex-foreign minister Pekka Haavisto of the Green Party who is running as an independent. Just behind the frontrunners are far-right Finns Party candidate Jussi Halla-aho, who experts believe could also make it to the second round. Bank of Finland Governor and ECB governing council member on leave of absence, Olli Rehn is also running as a candidate.
In order to win the presidency in the first round, a candidate must obtain more than 50 percent of ballots cast. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote today then a second-round run-off will be held on February 11 between top two candidates. Since swapping from an electoral college to a direct popular vote in 1994, no president may be elected for more than two consecutive terms.
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