“I danced, sang and partyed – absolutely amazing stuff,” said Sanna Marin in response to the criticism. Opponents urged him to take a drug test.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is facing an image crisis after a video of her dancing and singing excitedly at a party was leaked.
The recording, which appears to have been shared on social media, shows Marin and some of his friends dancing and singing, including some Finnish celebrities.
Leaders of the opposition parties fiercely criticized the prime minister – one of them demanded that he pass a drug test.
Marin, 36, said he didn’t do drugs, just drank and enjoyed the “noisy” party.
‘The coolest’
Marin was named the “coolest in the world” prime minister by German news site Bild last week.
He was once the youngest prime minister in the world and he makes no secret of his love to party – he has been photographed several times at music festivals.
Last year, Marin publicly apologized for going to the club after coming into close contact with someone with Covid-19.
Speaking about the incident, the prime minister said he knew it was being filmed but was upset that the video was made public.
“I danced, sang, and partyed—absolutely great stuff,” Marin said. “I’ve never been in a situation where I do drugs or see people using drugs,” he said.
Opposition leader Riikka Purra urged Marin to take a drug test, saying there was a “shade of suspicion” on the prime minister.
But other opposition politicians have criticized both the prime minister and the media for talking about the party rather than addressing more important domestic issues.
“I have a private life and a professional life. And I have free time to spend with my friends. Like many people my age,” Marin told reporters.
He stated that he would not change his behavior because of the criticism.
“I will continue to be who I have been, and I hope that will be accepted.”
Image: Reuters
The video was heavily reported in the Finnish media – it justified the use of the footage of a particular moment as something of public interest.
Marin has been in power since December 2019 and continues to have the support of his party – something necessary to remain prime minister in a parliamentary system.
“The reaction, like everything else in Marin, has been polarized,” Finnish journalist and commentator Robert Sundman told the BBC. “There are people who are shocked and there are those who say it’s okay for a woman her age to have fun with her friends.”
“But one thing’s for sure,” adds Sundman, “so far the party photos have not impacted—at least significantly—the popularity of him and his party.”
He says political friendships with Finnish celebrities have garnered a lot of attention, something not common among his predecessors.
source: Noticias
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