- The Prime Minister says she sang and drank alcohol, ‘perfectly legal things’ at party with friends
- Marin has drawn attention in the past for attending rock festivals and partying in nightclubs
- In December 2021, Marin apologised to the public after photos surfaced of her in a nightclub following the Foreign Minister testing positive for Covid-19
Finland’s Prime Minister says she did not take any drugs during a “wild” party in a private home, adding she did nothing wrong when letting her hair down and partying with friends.
A video posted on a social media shows six people dancing and mimicking a song in front of a camera, including Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
Later in the video, Marin, 36, is on her knees on what seems to be the dance floor with her arms behind her head dancing while mimicking a song.
“I’m disappointed that it has become public. I spent the evening with friends. Partied, pretty wild, yes. Danced and sang,” she was quoted as saying on Thursday by Finnish broadcaster YLE.
“I have not used drugs myself, or anything other than alcohol. I’ve danced, sung and partied and done perfectly legal things. I have also not been in a situation where I would know that others are doing it that way,” Marin said, according to the Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper.
It was unclear when the party, which reportedly was attended by Ilmari Nurminen, a member of Eduskunta, or parliament, for Marin’s Social Democratic Party, and the Finnish singer Alma, was held.
Marin – who in December 2019 became Finland’s youngest prime minister ever – said she spends her free time with friends just like others her age and that she intends to continue being the same person as before.
“I hope that’s accepted. We live in a democracy and in elections everyone can decide these issues,” she said, according to YLE.
Critics have pointed out that Finland, which shares a 1,340km (832-mile) land border with Russia, faces high electricity prices, among other issues from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. DAILY SCMP Today: Intl Edition Newsletter Start your day with our briefing on business, politics and important news stories from Hong Kong, Asia, and beyond. By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
The country recently dropped its long-neutral stance and asked to join NATO.
Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat said the episode raised questions about Marin’s judgment.
“Marin may have acted in good faith, but this gullible she should not be,” the paper wrote in an editorial.
The prime minister told media that alcohol was consumed at the party, but denied taking drugs. File photo: AP
“The prime minister can, in a sensitive situation, put the weapons of information warfare in the hands of those who would like to hurt Finland,” the newspaper said.
In July, Marin attended a popular Finnish rock festival. In December she made a public apology after going out clubbing until 4am without her work phone, hence failing to be informed that she had been in close contact with a Covid-19 positive person. She did not test positive.
A poll commissioned by Finnish TV channel MTV3 at the time found that two-thirds of respondents thought Marin’s night out was a “serious mistake”.
Additional reporting by Reuters