Finland's Foreign Minister Announces Bid to Run in 2024 Presidential Election

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto announced on Thursday that he will run in the presidential elections scheduled for next year, hoping to take over from current President Sauli Niinisto, who is stepping down after serving two terms.

This will be Haavisto's third attempt to become the country's president, as he came in second place in the 2012 and 2018 elections.

Recently, many Finns from different backgrounds have spoken to me and asked me to run in the next presidential elections scheduled for January," Haavisto told a news conference.

Haavisto is expected to resign from his position as foreign minister later this month. The move follows the loss of the center-left government, of which he was a part, in April’s parliamentary election.

This decision enables Haavisto to focus entirely on his presidential campaign and engage with the electorate more directly. Stepping down allows him to embrace his role as a candidate and engage with voters across Finland.