New Nato member Finland elects president set to keep up hard line on Russia

National Coalition Party candidate Alexander Stubb celebrates after winning the second round of the presidential election during an election party night in Helsinki, Finland (Sergei Grits/AP)

Former Finland Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has narrowly won a runoff vote to become the country’s next president, who will steer security policy that includes integrating the new Nato member into the alliance at a time of concern over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The final tally from Sunday’s runoff shows Mr Stubb, of the centre-right National Coalition Party, had 51.6% of the votes, while independent candidate and former foreign minister Pekka Haavisto from the green left got 48.4% of the votes.