Finland has a new president, and in this edition of the All Points North podcast we look at the implications of the race and what the Alexander Stubb presidency might bring.
Speaking to international media on Sunday evening, Stubb said that Finland had conducted an exemplary democratic election.
"I'm very proud of the way we have conducted the elections here in Finland," said Stubb, who becomes the country's 13th president when he takes office on 1 March.
"It's been very constructive, very positive, and in many ways very respectful. It's been a victory I think for liberal democracy. The reason for that is for us foreign and security policy is existential. We fully understand that we cannot have tough debates on foreign and security policy, especially not in this world political situation."
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Professor of World Politics Teivo Teivainen said that he felt the less stable international situation would bring different challenges for Sauli Niinistö's successor.
"In Finland many people have been thinking all throughout independence that it's an existential question if and when Russia attacks, will someone come and help us?"
In addition to a new president, Finland also gets its first foreign-born spouse. Susanne Innes-Stubb is a British-born lawyer, and she told APN on Sunday that she was looking forward to the new role.
"It's a huge honour," said Innes-Stubb. "Finland has been my home for 15 years but to take on this position would be a massive honour and a huge privilege."
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This week's show was presented by Ronan Browne, Egan Richardson and Zena Iovino, with additional reporting by Miyuki Jokiranta. The sound engineer was Matias Puumala.
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