Finns elected the center-right politician Alexander Stubb as their new president on Sunday, in the first national election since the country joined NATO, filling a post that will be critical to shaping the country’s role in the alliance at a time of increasingly fraught relations with Russia, Paralel.Az reports citing The New York Times.

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Alexander Stubb of the centre-right National Coalition Party led in the run-off vote for Finland's next president on Sunday, with 52.7% support in early results, justice ministry data showed, Paralel.Az reports citing Reuters.

The liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto was behind him at 47.3% support, with 63.2% of the votes counted, the data showed.

Finland is electing a new head of state who will also be responsible for its security and foreign policy. The winner is expected to be known by around 2100 GMT.

Stubb, a former prime minister, won the first round on Jan. 28 with 27.2% of the vote ahead of Haavisto on 25.8%. He has also led Haavisto in surveys, most recently by 6-8 percentage points.

"A very good start to this evening. That feels good at the moment but there are still plenty of votes to be counted," Stubb said after seeing the early results.

Haavisto remained hopeful.

"We are starting from a bit behind but it's still possible to catch up in the election day votes," he said.