Finland is in the midst of a presidential election as the country transitions into its new role as a member of NATO. This shift comes after years of non-alignment and in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
All nine candidates are vowing to take a tough stance against Russia if elected. The president will be responsible for foreign and security policy, representing Finland at NATO meetings, and serving as commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defence Forces.
Alexander Stubb of the centre-right National Coalition is currently leading in the polls, closely followed by Pekka Haavisto of the liberal Green Party and Jussi Halla-aho of the nationalist Finns Party.
Other candidates include Olli Rehn, the Bank of Finland Governor, and Jutta Urpilainen, the Social Democratic European Union Commissioner.
Preliminary results from advance voting show that nearly 45% of eligible voters have already cast their ballots. Final results are expected after polls close at 8pm (18:00 GMT).
Original from www.aljazeera.com