Essayah named as CD candidate for presidential poll

The SuomenKristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats of Finland-CD), a component of the four-party alliance government on Sunday nominated its Chairperson Sari Essayah as the party candidate for the upcoming presidential election scheduled to be held in January next year.

The party council from a conference in Joensuu unanimously nominated Essayah, also Minister of Agriculture and Forestry for the presidential election, said the CD in a press release.

Earlier on August 24, the board of the party proposed Essayah as the party's presidential candidate and on Sunday she was elected unopposed.

Essayah, a fourth-term MP of the party from North Savo constituency has been leading the party since 2015.

Earlier, veteran politician of Vihreä Liitto (Green Party) Pekka Haavisto, former Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party of Finland) lawmaker and Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn, Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) leader Jussi Halla-aho, Liike Nyt (Movement Now) lawmaker Harry Harkimo, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb (Kansallinen Kokoomus-National Coalition Party), former Keskusta Chair Paavo Väyrynen and Saara Huhtasaari of Freedom Alliance announced their candidatures for the 2024 presidential poll.

Main opposition party in parliament Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) Chair Sanna Marin in mid-August announced the name of Jutta Urpilainen as the party's presidential candidate.