President Stubb warns against polarisation in his first New Year’s speech

By admin On Jan 2, 2025

President Alexander Stubb delivered his inaugural New Year’s speech in the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on 1 January 2024. Stubb said he is more concerned than internal polarisation than external security, warning that polarisation can undermine the ability to grow and defend oneself especially in small countries such as Finland. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

PRESIDENT Alexander Stubb has revealed that he is more concerned about internal polarisation than external security in Finland.

“Over the past decade, many liberal democracies have witnessed a strong rise in polarisation. As a small nation, we cannot afford that. A divided nation cannot defend itself or grow,” he stated in his inaugural New Year’s speech.

The president called attention to the responsibility of the individual, viewing that everything ultimately depends on how people treat one another and handle new, difficult and uncertain situations. Everyone, as a result, bears the same responsibility for the future – a responsibility that cannot be out – also at the Independence Day Reception.

He delivered the speech in a setting with warm, moody and indirect lighting – a visible contrast to the bright natural light preferred by his predecessor, Sauli Niinistö. The setting was made more inviting with candles and other smaller .

“The broadcast had a pleasantly soft, warm, white light. It brought a range of tones to the space,” she said.

Stubb also stood out from his predecessor in that he delivered the speech live. Yet another change from previous years is that he gave the speech not only in Finnish and Swedish, but also in English. The English version, though, was only broadcast on YLE Areena.

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi