Explained | Sanna Marin- Why is the Finnish PM in trouble for ‘partying?’

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin apologized to the public on August 23, for a controversial photo taken at her official residence. Elected as the world’s youngest Prime Minister, Ms. Marin is already under fire for partying with her friends.

The story so far: Barely a week after facing backlash for videos her partying, 36-year-old Finnish PM Sanna Marin is under fire for a picture showing two women kissing, lifting their tops to bare their torsos and covering their breasts with a sign that says “Finland”, as per AP.

Confirming that the picture was taken at her official residence in Kesaranta after a music festival on July 8-10, Ms. Marin said, “In my opinion, that photo is not appropriate, I apologize for that. That photo shouldn’t have been taken”. The photo, though not featuring Marin, was taken in a bathroom at her official residence following a music festival in Kesaranta (northern Helsinki) in early July.

Later on Wednesday, while addressing a crowd in the southern Finland town of Lathi, the Finnish PM broke down saying that she was human and never failed to attend to a single work task because she took time off.

“I am a human being. I sometimes also long for joy, light and pleasure in the midst of these dark clouds...It’s private, it’s joy and it’s life. I didn’t miss a single day of work,” said Ms. Marin adding, “This week has not been easy. It has been difficult. But I want to believe that people look at the work we do, not what we do in our free time.”

In mid-August, videos of Ms. Marin partying with well-known Finnish influencers and artists began circulating in social media and were later published by several media outlets in Finland. In the video, Ms. Marin is seen drinking and dancing along with her friends to Finnish music. According to Nordic News, the video also featured several influential Finnish figures like singer Alma, TV host Tinni Wikstrom and YouTuber Ilona Ylikorpi.

Once the video went viral on social media, speculation began that drugs were being consumed at the party. According to several Finnish media outlets, the lack of any alcohol bottles and the talk of ‘flour’ (a way to referto drugs) by someone in the video raised the question of drug usage. However, while Ms. Marin acknowledged that she and her friends celebrated in a “boisterous way”, she said that, as per her knowledge, no drugs were involved.

With many Opposition leaders and Ms. Marin’s own coalition partners demanding she take a drug test, the Finnish PM underwent one on August 19. She vowed that she had never done drugs and that her ability to perform her official duties had remained unimpaired on the night in question.