“Each minister can decide for himself what he does in his free time.”
(Photo: via REUTERS)
Stockholm Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is once again making the headlines. A video distributed via social media shows the 36-year-old dancing exuberantly at a private party. The PM can also be seen kneeling on the floor with her arms behind her head as she sings along to a song.
Before that, photos of her visit to a rock festival had gone through the media, as did her meeting with her Swedish counterpart Magdalena Andersson, to which Marin appeared in a heavy leather biker jacket. Pictures of visits to discotheques occasionally do the rounds.
The video, published by Finnish tabloids Iltalehti and Ilta-Sanomat on Thursday, spread rapidly both at home and abroad. It is linked in a tweet in this article.
Marin, who often posts private pictures of herself on Instagram, was disappointed with the publication. “These private pictures were not intended for the public,” said the Prime Minister, adding that she was “sad” about the publication. It is not yet clear who and when the video came from.
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According to Marin, the celebration was a party with friends in a private apartment, including some influencers and TV personalities. She celebrated, “pretty wild, yes. I danced and sang.” She said she had not taken any drugs or anything other than alcohol, according to the newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet.
Marin emphasized that she spends her free time like many other Finns. “I hope that people will accept that.”
Approval and rejection on social media
In Finland, a drug test has been demanded by the right-wing populist Party of Finns, but also by one of its coalition partners, the Center Party. With this, Marin could prove that no drugs other than alcohol were consumed at the private party. “I have done nothing illegal and have nothing to hide,” said the head of government, who did not rule out that she would undergo a drug test.
Her own social democratic party gave her full confidence. Marin also received a lot of approval from the public on Thursday.
Justice Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson from the party of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland also did not want to condemn the head of government. “Each minister can decide for himself what to do in his free time,” she said. But she couldn’t resist a little side swipe. Marin was a little too trusting if she believed the video would not be distributed.
On social media, Marin received both approval and rejection. Such behavior is not appropriate for a Prime Minister, wrote a user. Another showed a lot of understanding for Marin. “So what!” he commented. Most Finns, however, expressed their sympathy for their prime minister.
The prime minister’s party video attracted a great deal of media interest.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
Hanna Kosonen, a former minister in Marin’s cabinet, probably said what most Finns think, looking at the video. “People should dance more,” she explained.
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