Finnish PM responds to drug allegations after wild party videos leaked

RT
Thu, 18 Aug 2022 13:28 UTC

Leaked videos of Sanna Marin on a night out have exposed the 36-year-old leader to criticism

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has denied taking drugs after videos of a night out, in which a number of revelers could reportedly be heard discussing cocaine, were leaked online. The controversy has prompted some politicians to call for the young leader to take a drug test.

"I am upset that these videos have become public. It was about me having a night out with friends. Partying - even in a boisterous way - dancing and singing," Marin told the media on Thursday morning.

She denied any wrongdoing, but lamented the violation of her privacy. The party took place at a private residence several weeks ago, she said, and expected her off-duty time to remain confidential. Marin confirmed that the party that night later continued at two bars in Helsinki.

The footage, which circulated earlier this week on social media, showed the 36-year-old Finnish prime minister having a good time with several public figures, mostly from the entertainment industry, but also including MP Ilmari Nurminen, 31. According to reports in the local press, some of the partygoers could be heard shouting a term that can refer to cocaine.

A number of Finnish politicians have voiced concerns about possible damage to the prime minister's image. MP Mikko Karna suggested that Marin should voluntarily take a drug test and make the results public simply to leave no room for speculation. He also said he was concerned about the reputation of the PM's office. Karna's political party is part of the current ruling coalition.

Comment: RT reports on the PM's response

In a press conference on Thursday, Marin denied being a drug user, but dismissed calls for her to prove this. She has also hit out at the person who leaked the video, calling the party a 'private event.'

Marin's love of nightlife became an issue last year, when she went out with her husband, hours after a member of her cabinet tested positive for Covid-19. There was some confusion over whether vaccinated individuals like herself should self-isolate after exposure. She later apologized for not double-checking her own government's health guidelines.

Comment: Whilst everybody is entitled to decompress and relax, as the leader of a nation, one is held up to higher standards. It's notable that the PM doesn't think so, but some of Finland's citizens do. It seems that, despite the social engineering that the public has been subjected to in recent decades, they still expect that someone holding a position of such high office should have reached a certain level of maturity, and who have more responsible leisure activities, that won't intefere with their running of the country. One should also bear in mind that Finland is claiming that the current global situation is so fraught that it needs to join NATO as soon as possible.

UPDATE: 19th August 2022 @ 14:52 CET