Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn announced his candidacy to become Finland’s next president at a press conference Tuesday where he emphasised continued support to Ukraine and close cooperation with the West, particularly the European Union and the US.
Rehn, a former European commissioner who dealt with enlargement matters and then the economy between 2004 and 2014, then served as vice-president of the European Parliament from 2014-2015. From 2015-2016 he was FInland’s Economy Minister.
Rehn holds a degree of Doctor of Philosophy in international political economy from Oxford University and is currently the Governor of the Bank of Finland and a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.
In the presidential elections set for 28 January 2024, he will be running against the former foreign minister Pekka Haavisto and businessman turned politician Harry Harkimo. More candidates are expected during the summer and early autumn.
In Finland, the president leads the foreign and security policy in cooperation with the government.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
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