POLITICAL NOTE No. 1 - January 28, 2024
EUROPE – POLITICAL NOTE No. 1, 2024 FINLAND: Presidential elections are held today, Sunday 28 January, in Finland. The incumbent president, Sauli Niinistö, cannot continue as he has served two terms. The favorite for the post is my old friend and colleague in the Commission, Alex Stubb. He is a former prime minister and finance minister. And years ago he was employed in Delors’ cabinet here in Brussels. He is very pro-European and very pro-NATO. He has argued for Finland's membership of both organizations for many years. And that is the country as you know now. Alex is from the conservative Samlingsparty. In the election campaign, he is particularly up against the liberal former foreign minister, Pekka Haavisto. If neither gets at least 50% of the vote today, the top two will go to the polls again on Sunday 11 February. The presidency in Finland is particularly significant in foreign and defense policy. The person is, for example, commander in chief of the Finnish mil...