Mika Aaltola has collected some 25,000 supporter cards, more than the minimum 20,000 required to stand as an independent candidate in the race to become Finland's next president.
Despite having never worked as a politician or previously run for office, Aaltola is standing on the strength of his reputation as a foreign policy specialist and director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA). He is on leave of absence from that role.
He came to public prominence in the months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, frequently appearing in media to discuss the geopolitical situation as well as Finland's accession to Nato.
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In order to stand in the election without party affiliation, a candidate must collect at least 20,000 supporter signatures.
Current governor of the Bank of Finland, Olli Rehn, and the frontrunner in the race, Pekka Haavisto, have also chosen to stand as independent candidates despite being long-standing members of the Centre Party and the Greens respectively.
Rehn said that he had obtained the required 20,000 signatures on 15 September, while Haavisto announced last week that he had gathered 48,000 by the end of September.
The first round of the Finnish presidential elections will take place in late January, with a possible second-round run-off in February.
15.39: Updated number of cards.
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