A view of campaign posters of the Finnish presidential candidates in Helsinki, Finland, Jan 10, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

HELSINKI - Early voting started in the Finnish presidential election on Wednesday, more than a week before the Jan 28 election day in the first round.

Two out of nine candidates will meet in the second round on Feb 11.

The two leading candidates, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb and former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, are running head to head, according to most recent polls. A latest poll by the Helsingin Sanomat (HS) newspaper shows that Stubb has got the support of 24 percent of voters, whereas 22 percent support Haavisto.

Polls give Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Jutta Urpilainen only 5% support, though SDP remains the second largest in the country, at 20.3%. On the other hand, Pekka Haavisto's 22% presidential support is way higher than the Green Party's 8.9%

Stubb is running as a candidate of the conservative National Coalition, while Haavisto, a Green Party politician, is the candidate of an election alliance. This is Haavisto's third attempt to run for presidency.

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In Finland's Constitution, following the reforms in the 1990s, the powers of the president are restricted to foreign policy that he or she is handling "together with the government". The prime ministers represent Finland in the EU, while the president represents the country at NATO summits.

Still, candidates have endeavored to distinguish themselves by addressing domestic policy issues beyond the presidential power, including tensions on the labor market and social security. They have shown no major differences on foreign and security policies.

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Some analysts have noticed that the popularity of some candidates differs from the backing of the political parties they are associated with.

Polls give Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Jutta Urpilainen only 5 percent support, though SDP remains the second largest in the country, at 20.3 percent. On the other hand, Pekka Haavisto's 22 percent presidential support is way higher than the Green Party's 8.9 percent.

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Poll researchers explained that many SDP voters had so far moved behind Haavisto, as he would have realistic chances for the second round.

The Finns party candidate, Jussi Halla-aho, got 13 percent support, while the party has 18 percent backing. Alexander Stubb's 24 percent is in line with the conservative party support of 22.3 in the latest HS poll.

New polls are expected next week. According to analysts, changes of the top two candidates are still possible even after early voting begins.