Finnish PM takes drug test after partying scandal
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Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin reveals on Friday she took a drug test after footage was leaked this week showing her partying with friends and reiterates she has never used narcotics.
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Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (Photo: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency/Bloomberg)
After a leaked video of Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin partying sparked criticism, Marin said Friday she had taken a drug test and reiterated she had never taken narcotics.
The video that shows Marin dancing at a party with a group of friends and celebrities has been shared widely on social media and local media.
Some have interpreted the partygoers' comments heard on the video as referring to narcotics, which was heavily debated on social media and strongly denied by the prime minister.
"To clear up any suspicions, I have taken a drug test today," Marin told reporters, adding that the results will be out and shared with the media as soon as they are ready.
The Finnish PM has previously commented on the leaked video that she was "spending an evening with friends" and it was "filmed in private premises", admitting to having drunk alcohol, but denying taking drugs or even witnessing any drug use by any attendees.
"Never in my life, not even in my youth, have I ever used any drugs," she said Friday.
While some people defended Marin's right to enjoy a private event with her friends, others criticized her behavior and described it as inappropriate for a prime minister.
Finland’s Prime Minister’s partying videos have been leaked. 🍾🥂💃🏻 It’s only a matter of time before she cheats on her beta husband!✨🤩🤪 pic.twitter.com/9CJA0U81US
— ᴇᴜʀᴏʜᴇɢ (@EuroHeg) August 17, 2022
People mostly criticized the PM for partying and dancing in such a way while she was on duty, and others judged her ability to make sound decisions in the event of an unexpected crisis.
However, Marin defended herself by saying that her capacity to function was good and she "didn't expect to have any meetings."
Antti Lindtman, the head of the Social Democratic Party's parliamentary group, supported the PM and told the media he "can't see any major problem with dancing at a private event with friends".
Marin, 34, was appointed in 2019 and has previously been the target of criticism over parties at her official residence. In December 2021, she was criticized for staying out dancing until the early hours despite having been exposed to Covid-19.
A poll commissioned by Finnish TV channel MTV3 at the time revealed that two-thirds of respondents believed her night out was a "serious mistake".
