Finland’s premier takes drug test after party video sparks controversy

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday that she had taken a drug test following backlash over a video this week that showed her partying with friends and vowed she had never used narcotics.

“In the last few days, there have been very serious public accusations that I was in a space where drugs were used, or that I used drugs myself,” Marin told a news conference.

“I consider these allegations to be very serious and, although I consider the examination requirement to be unfair, for my own legal protection and to clarify doubts, I took a test today, the results of which will be out in about a week,” he added.

Videos of the head of government partying with Finnish influencers and artists began to circulate on social media and soon had repercussions in various media in Finland and abroad.

The 36-year-old prime minister also claimed that her ability to carry out government duties remained intact on the Saturday night in question and that she would have left the party if requested at work.

Marin, who became the world’s youngest government leader in December 2019, received requests from members of her coalition and the opposition to take a drug test after the videos surfaced.

The Social Democrat leader said she never used drugs and that she didn’t see anyone doing it at the party.

While many praised her for combining her demanding job with an active private life, others questioned the decision to allow her to be filmed, even when promised that the videos would not be released.

Video print that circulated on social media of Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, 36, at a private party

At a time when Europe is experiencing instability from the war between Russia and Ukraine, Marin also faces criticism that her parties could interfere with her ability to quickly fulfill her duties if a sudden crisis hit Finland.

She told reporters that if there was a crisis situation, she would know before midnight on Saturday, adding that the Finnish armed forces were well equipped to anticipate any military crisis that could affect the country.

Finland, which shares a long land border with Russia, applied with neighboring Sweden to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after the start of the war.

Source: CNN Brasil

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