Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb Wins First Round of Finland’s Presidential Vote to Set Up Runoff

National Coalition Party candidate Alexander Stubb smiles, during a Presidential election event, at the Helsinki City Hall, in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. A projection in Finland says Alexander Stubb has won the first round of the presidential election to set up a Feb 11 runoff. Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva via AP

HELSINKI—Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won the first round of Finland’s presidential election Sunday and will face runner-up ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto in a runoff next month.

The vote largely centered on the Nordic nation’s new role as a NATO front-line country with Russia, and the security situation in Europe, particularly Russia’s assault on Ukraine.