A party video in which Finland’s head of government, Sanna Marin, drunk and dancing with friends, caused a worldwide sensation. Has the 36-year-old violated the duties of her office? Finland’s judiciary finds clear words.
About two months after the publication of a party video with the Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, the complaints against her for misconduct have been dismissed. The Finnish Chancellor of Justice stated that he saw “no reason to suspect the Prime Minister of illegal behavior in the course of her work or neglect of her official duties”. In Finland, the Chancellor of Justice is responsible for checking the legality of the actions of members of the government.
At the end of August, a video circulating on the online networks caused a stir, showing Prime Minister Marin exuberantly dancing and partying with friends and celebrities. Although she drank alcohol, she did not use any drugs and did not find any other participants using drugs. The case went around the world; Discussions erupted both about the conduct of heads of state and government in their private lives and about what were seen as exaggerated allegations against women in power.
Several dozen complaints were filed with the Chancellor of Justice after the video was published. The complainants accused the 36-year-old of having been unable to work due to alcohol consumption, of having behaved inappropriately for a head of government and of having damaged Finland’s “reputation and security”.
However, the Chancellor of Justice concluded that there was no evidence that Marin had violated a “specific official duty”. After criticizing the video, the social democrat Marin even did a drug test to “dispel any suspicion”. He turned out negative. Marin is the youngest prime minister in Finnish history. When she took office in 2019, she was the youngest head of government in the world at the age of 34.
