Finland heads to the polls as Stubb and Haavisto battle to become president

As Finland freezes in temperatures pushing -20 degrees Celsius, it's also gearing up for picking the man that will lead the Nordic nation on foreign and security policy, and represent Finland at NATO meetings.

‌With the latest polling showing very little between the two candidates, Pekka Haavisto and Alexander Stubb, last-minute campaign events could be crucially important with undecided voters.

‌At the last count just eight points separated the two in the polls; heading in to the vote on Sunday, the final vote is expected to be very close.

Former foreign minister Haavisto – running as an independent, but with close links to the Greens – is the candidate with ground to make up ahead of Sunday's vote. His campaign told CGTN he hoped to strike a chord with younger and female voters. 

Taking a few moments out from having his picture snapped with supporters to speak to CGTN, Haavisto said he believes his message will speak to working people.

‌"I think it's just been a phenomenon that, the whole time, we discussed about foreign security policies," he said. "But now, actually, when we are looking at the situation, people are asking everyday life questions from the presidential candidate - asking, 'Does the president know about the poverty? Does the president know about the inequality in the country and equality between different regions?' and so forth. And I think it's it's very important to listen to ordinary citizens."

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The Finnish president is also the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. While both campaigns have fully supported joining NATO, ‌current frontrunner Stubb told CGTN that he is more open to nuclear weapons having a potential role on Finnish soil.

‌"I personally think that, our nuclear deterrent is a very important part of our security," said Stubb, formerly Finland's prime minister. "NATO gives us three types of security. First one is troops. Second one is missiles. And the third one is a nuclear umbrella. And let's maximize that."

I‌n Finland, the president is responsible for shaping foreign policy. In this vote, there’s not much between the two in what they believe the direction should be. Political analyst Emilia Palonen says it will come down to how they express that belief.

‌"Well, these two candidates are quite similar in terms of foreign policy. I think it's more their personality that is different," she says. "One (Stubb) is like very much international in terms of that, trans-Atlantic system. And the other one (Haavisto) is a global peace negotiator who's trying to express at least that he's got his feet on the ground in Finland."

‌This is the third time that Haavisto has made it to the final ballot for president, having been unsuccessful in 2012 and 2018. For Stubb, the presidency is one of the few roles in Finnish high office he has not held.

Both are out pressing the flesh in the final hours before voting starts - as the fight for the numbers needed goes right down to the line.

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