Finns go to the polls Sunday to elect a new president
![]() 2499 Sunday, 28 January, 2024, 11:24 The two leading candidates represent the left and right-wings of Finnish politics, but the far-right candidate has made progress in recent polls. Voting begins in Finland Sunday morning, with citizens able to cast their ballot for one of nine candidates aspiring to be the Nordic nation's 13th president. Advance voting started earlier this month, and the country's election commission reports that more than 1.8 million people, or 44% of eligible voters, made their choice ahead of Sunday's main vote. The two leading contenders, Alex Stubb from the right-wing National Coalition Party and Green politician Pekka Haavisto, both have a wealth of foreign policy experience - an important qualification for the role which is largely ceremonial, but retains a constitutional lead on foreign affairs outside of the EU; with the office holder also commander-in-chief of the Finnish military. Recent polls have put Stubb and Haavisto within a few percentage points of each other, and as close as 0.6% - and with neither candidate likely to get more than 50% in the first round, the top two will head to a second-round vote in February. |
Zelensky signs sanctions package targeting Russia’s financial schemes
384Yesterday, 19:52Russian authorities tackle ammonia leak at Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga
332Yesterday, 18:46Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban government of Afghanistan
71703.07.2025, 23:46"There are no longer any conditions for the operation of "Sputnik Azerbaijan" - Kiselyov
58803.07.2025, 17:58Azerbaijani news websites restricted in Russia
45903.07.2025, 15:58Liverpool striker Diogo Jota dies in car crash
54103.07.2025, 14:58Aliyev laid the foundation stone for a railway and bus station in occupied Stepanakert
62503.07.2025, 13:40UN accuses Israel of one of the world's worst genocides
51603.07.2025, 13:22