Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin is seen dancing and singing with pals at a private party in a leaked video. The leader, 36, poses for the camera. She is seated on her knees, her hands behind her head. She’s caught up in a group embrace. She’s having a good time.
Countless such films are published on social media on a daily basis by young and not-so-young people partying in Finland and throughout the world. However, the leak has sparked a debate among Finns about the proper degree of revelry for a prime minister, especially in light of neighbouring Russia’s incursion on Ukraine, which pushed long-neutral Finland and Sweden to aspire for NATO membership.
Marin, the leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party, has been bombarded with inquiries regarding the party: Were drugs used? Alcohol? Was she at work or on vacation this summer? Was the prime minister alert enough to deal with an emergency if one arose?
The video, which was undoubtedly filmed by someone at the party, was posted on social media this week and drew the attention of Finnish media. Marin said she went to the party in recent weeks but wouldn’t specify where or when.
She also said that she and her pals celebrated in a “boisterous style,” with booze — but no drugs, to her knowledge. She said on Friday that she had taken a drug test to put a stop to rumours regarding illicit drugs.
“I hope that by 2022, it will be recognised that even decision-makers dance, sing, and attend parties,” Marin told reporters. “I didn’t want any photographs to be circulated, but it’s up to the people to determine what they think.”
The prime minister, who is married and has a four-year-old daughter, has often stated that despite being the leader of Finland’s government, she is just like any other person her age who enjoys spending time with friends and family in their spare time.
On Friday afternoon in Helsinki, sentiments were divided.
According to Josua Fagerholm, a marketing professional, the incident might harm Finland’s brand and undermine public trust in Finnish politicians.
“I believe it is critical for our leaders to be respected and to have the public’s trust.” “As a result, I don’t believe it’s a nice appearance,” he remarked.
Mintuu Kylliainen, a Helsinki student, disagreed. She stated that everyone has the right have an opinion, but she believed the leaked film was receiving too much attention.
“It’s natural to party,” Kylliainen explained. “She, too, should have enjoyment in her life.”
Some supporters argue that the criticism of the prime minister is sexist.
Marin, 34, became Finland’s youngest prime minister in 2019. Even in the egalitarian Nordic nation, Marin felt her gender and age were often overemphasised. In 2020, she told Vogue, “in every position I’ve ever been in, my gender has always been the beginning point – that I am a young woman.”
Anu Koivonen, a gender studies professor at Finland’s University of Turku, said gender was not a deciding factor in the outrage over the leaked film. She stated that the partying was not a major deal, but the fact that the tape was released may be interpreted as a lack in judgement by the prime minister in terms of the individuals she surrounded herself with.
“She didn’t restrict herself in a business where she can’t trust everyone,” Koivonen added. “I believe that is the fundamental issue.”
Jarno Limnell, a cybersecurity specialist and conservative National Coalition Party lawmaker in Finland, said the partying incident was troubling from a security aspect, noting that Finland’s senior leaders are of interest to foreign intelligence agencies.
“Information is obtained from a number of sources, and even seemingly little pieces of information might be vital to a foreign power,” Limnell said in an interview with the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. “During the NATO ratification process, top decision-makers are being closely monitored.”
Marin’s partying isn’t the first time it’s made news. She apologised in December after going partying till 4 a.m. and missed a text message warning her to avoid social interaction owing to her proximity to someone infected with Covid-19. Marin explained that she missed the message because she had left her phone at home. She did not test positive for the virus.
Even in a progressive society like Finland’s, Marin breaks the mould of a typical politician. She grew up with a single mother who was in a relationship with another woman. Many Finns are proud of her modern approach to the office, including her casual attire. Marin set social media abuzz in April when she showed up to a press conference with her Swedish counterpart wearing a black leather jacket.
Marin and her female-majority Cabinet have also received accolades in Finland and abroad for resolutely navigating the country through the epidemic and the NATO application procedure.
“Our prime minister is fantastic,” Jori Korkman, a retiree in Helsinki, remarked. “She took on a challenging position during a difficult period, and she did an excellent job.” What she does in her spare time is none of our concern.”
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