Former PM Alexander Stubb Wins Finland Presidential Elections

Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb clinched a comfortable victory in presidential election run-off against ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto to become Finland’s next president after a seven year hiatus. 

Stubb will w take over task of guiding rdic country's foreign and security policy w that it's a member of rth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As widely claimed, former leer of National Conservative Party's bid for president's office was promted by Russia-Ukraine war. 

With all votes counted on Sunday, Stubb of National Coalition Party h 51.6 percent of votes, while independent candidate Haavisto from green left got 48.4 percent of votes. Initial voter turut was 70.7 percent, claimed officials. 

Stubb, who started his political career as a lawmaker at European Parliament in 2004, won first round on January 28 with 27.2 percent of vote ahe of Haavisto with 25.8 percent. He has also led Haavisto in surveys, most recently by 6-8 percent points.

tably, change of guard marks new era in Finland, which for long elected presidents to bolster diplomacy.