Stubb takes over as 13th President of Finland today

Alexander Stubb will take over as the 13^th President of Finland on Friday.

Outgoing President Sauli Niinistö and president-elect Alexander Stubb will leave the Presidential Palace together and attend Parliament's plenary session.

On their arrival at the Parliament Building, Niinistö will inspect the Guard of Honour.

Niinistö will address Parliament at the plenary session, and Jussi Halla-aho, Speaker of Parliament, will respond.

Stubb will then make the solemn affirmation laid down in section 56 of the Constitution of Finland.

Following this, Speaker of Parliament will convey Parliament's greetings to the new President, who will in turn address Parliament.

After the plenary session, the Presidents will exit the Parliament Building, and President Stubb will inspect the Guard of Honour.

The Presidents will then return to the Presidential Palace, where they and their spouses will greet the people from the Palace balcony.

At the Presidential Palace, the Diplomatic Corps, the Government, representatives of the highest state bodies and the most senior public officials will take leave of President Sauli Niinistö, before greeting President Stubb.

The address of the Diplomatic Corps will be delivered by its Dean, Ambassador of Croatia Josip Buljević, and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will make a speech on behalf of the Government.

People can watch the Presidents inspecting the Guard of Honour from Mannerheimintie in front of the Parliament Building at 11.50 and around 13.00.

Spectators can also watch from the Market Square as the presidential couples greet the public from the Presidential Palace balcony at around 13.10.

The inauguration ceremony will impact traffic in the centre of Helsinki between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm, said police in a press release.

The Mannerheimintie street will be closed to traffic in front of the Parliament House at 11:40 and 1:00 pm. The front of the Presidential Palace will be closed to traffic around 1:00 pm.

“The interruptions to traffic will not be long but will cause short-term congestions. We recommend people driving cars to avoid the area on Friday noon,” said Superintendent of the Helsinki Police Department Jari Kaikko.

A Book of Congratulations for the inaugurated President will be open for the people to sign at the Main Guard Post from 12.30 to 17.00 on March 1 and at the Presidential Palace from 10.00 to 16.00 on March 2.

The inauguration of the President will be broadcast live on national broadcaster Yle TV1, Yle Fem and Yle Areena.

Ruling Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) candidate Alexander Stubb has been elected the 13th President of Finland on February 11.