"Finland's Presidential Election Heads to Runoff After First Round"

Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won the first round of Finland's presidential election with 27.1% of the votes, leading to a runoff against runner-up Pekka Haavisto. None of the nine candidates secured more than 50% of the votes in the first round. The role of the Finnish president is significant in directing foreign and security policy, especially amid Finland's deteriorating relations with Russia following its joining of NATO in response to the war in Ukraine.