Elections in Finland, counting has begun: center-right chief Alexander Stubb within the lead | EUROtoday

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The first knowledge on the end result of the presidential poll in Finland present the centre-right chief Alexander Stubb within the lead.

Stubb has at the moment obtained 52.7% of the votes, based on the newest replace launched by the Ministry of Justice. Rival Pekka Haavisto, a member of the Green Party, lagged behind with 47.3%. It is just too early, nevertheless, to ascertain a definitive winner: the ultimate result’s anticipated round 10pm.

Finland's thirteenth president will assist information the Nordic nation's international and safety coverage into a brand new period as a member of NATO. The president, throughout his six-year time period, will act because the nation's high diplomat and supreme commander of its protection forces, working in partnership with the federal government to handle international relations. At the nationwide degree, the president's powers are restricted.

Who are the candidates

The former prime minister Stubbs, 55 years previous, entered the elections because the favorite, having prevailed within the first spherical on 28 January and sustaining his lead within the polls through the two weeks of the electoral marketing campaign. The challenger Haavisto65 years previous, is the outgoing Foreign Minister.

Both signify continuity in international coverage, aiming to counter Russia, assist Ukraine and combine Finland into the protection alliance.