Finland's 36-year-old prime minister takes drug test after 'wild' party videos emerge

Advertisement
Finland's 36-year-old prime minister takes drug test after 'wild' party videos emerge
Prime minister of Finland Sanna Marin holds a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, on August 19, 2022RONI REKOMAA/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images
  • Finland's 36-year-old prime minister told reporters she took a drug test to "clear up any doubts."
  • Sanna Marin insists she didn't take drugs. The results will be available in a week.
Advertisement

Sanna Marin, Finland's 36-year-old prime minister, told reporters on Friday that she took a drug test Friday after receiving backlash to videos showing her dancing and drinking at a private party.

At a news conference, Marin said she was tested for drugs on Friday and the results would be available in a week's time. She said she did the test "for my own legal protection and to clear up any doubts."

She told reporters that she did not do anything illegal, adding that she's entitled to the presumption of innocence. "Even in my teenage years I have not used any kind of drugs," Marin added.

A series of Instagram clips, first published by the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti, shows Marin dancing enthusiastically with a group of friends in what appears to be a private setting. Marin described the partying as "pretty wild," per Sky News, and stated that she was "disappointed" that the videos had become public.

Finnish media alleged that a voice in the background could be heard shouting "flour gang" — a supposed reference to cocaine. Marin denies this.

Advertisement

Marin said that, to her knowledge, drugs were not consumed at the party. "As far as I know, I have never been in such a situation," she said, per The Guardian. "On the night shown in the video footage, I didn't see anyone using drugs."

She described her alcohol consumption as "moderate" and said she walked "normally" from the party to her car and traveled home safely.

Finland's 36-year-old prime minister takes drug test after 'wild' party videos emerge
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Uk in Kyiv, Ukraine.Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

Marin, one of the world's youngest leaders, has gained a reputation for enjoying partying. In December 2021, she made a public apology after reports said she went clubbing until 4 a.m. despite having been exposed to COVID-19.

A post shared by Ruisrock (@ruisrock)

In July, she attended a Finnish rock festival wearing a leather jacket and denim shorts. While some commentators described her as "effortlessly cool," her choice of clothing sparked debate among detractors.

{{}}