Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin made history in 2019 by becoming the country’s youngest prime minister ever. Now, it’s her ability to throw down some serious dance moves that has drawn both admiration and criticism.
Social media posts this week that showed Marin, 36, dancing in a party setting with his friends have caused controversy. According to Finnish media reports, people can be heard shouting cocaine in the video, which was posted on Instagram Stories. Marin said the video was filmed “a few weeks ago,” The Guardian reported.
Marin should be subject to a drug screening and the results released publicly by members of Opposition parties. This would suggest that Marin’s actions were inappropriate as a prime minister. Opposition party leader Riikka Purra said there was a “shadow of doubt” over her actions.
Continue reading: Finland’s Sanna Marin, the World’s Youngest Female Head of Government, Wants Equality, Not Celebrity
Marin stated that she did not consume drugs nor drink heavily during the party at a Thursday press conference. “I have danced, sung, celebrated, done legal things,” she said.
Marin also expressed disappointment that the videos were shared. “I trusted that since the videos are private and published at a private event, they would not be published,” Marin said. “It feels bad that they have been published.”
She also said she doesn’t see a need to change her behavior. “I am going to be exactly the same person as I have been until now and I hope that it will be accepted,” the Prime Minister said.
Finnish television presenter Aleksi Valavuori criticized Marin’s actions as seen in the video, saying that it portrayed the leader’s incompetence.
But many on social media are also defending Marin’s right to party, arguing that scrutiny over her actions is sexist and misguided.
This is not the first time Marin’s social activities have come under fire. Marin had been accused of failing to take COVID precautions in December last year, when she was partying after her colleague became ill with the coronavirus. (The Prime Minister didn’t break any rules. Finland at the time did not require anyone who had been vaccinated to be isolated from someone who has tested positive. The woman also apologized by saying she didn’t have her official cellphone and had missed the text message encouraging her to self-isolate.
Marin is often in the news for attending music festivals and going to parties. She has hit back by telling others, “I have a family life, I have a work life and I have free time to spend with my friends. Pretty much the same as many people my age,” the BBC reported.
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