Finnish PM Sanna Marin takes drugs test but hits back at critics

World's youngest national leader denies wrongdoing after video surfaces showing her partying with friends

Sanna Marin holds a press conference in Helsinki on Friday to address the 

partying controversy swirling round her. AFP

The National

Aug 19, 2022

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Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday she had taken a drugs test after video footage published earlier this week showed her partying with friends, but vowed she had never used illegal substances.

“I have today taken a drugs test and the results will come within a week,” she told a news conference. “Never in my life have I used drugs.”

Ms Marin added that her ability to perform her duties remained unimpaired during the night in question and that she would have left the party had she been required to work.

Video clips showing Ms Marin partying with well-known Finnish influencers and artists began circulating on social media this week and they were soon published by several media outlets in Finland and abroad.

When the footage surfaced, Ms Marin, who at 36 is the world’s youngest national leader, admitted she had been exuberant but insisted she had not used drugs.

“I danced, sang and partied — perfectly legal things,” she said. “And I've never been in a situation where I've seen or known of others using drugs.

“I have a family life, I have a work life and I have free time to spend with my friends. Pretty much the same as many people my age.”

She said she had known she was being filmed and was upset that it had been made public.

Ms Marin had faced calls to do a drug test from politicians in her government coalition as well as from the opposition after the videos surfaced.

However she received support on Friday from her Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, who said Ms Marin had good reason to go out and celebrate because her country is joining Nato.

“So if on this occasion the prime minister of Finland drank a little more Finlandia [vodka] and because of this danced, there is nothing terrible in that,” said Mr Morawiecki.

Updated: August 19, 2022,