Finland’s PM has ‘no problem’ with drug test after wild partying video

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin has said she has “nothing to hide” and “no problem” taking a drug test after a video of her dancing wildly and having fun with friends went viral.

Footage of the 36-year-old PM partying with other high-profile Finns at a private apartment has gripped Finnish media, drawing headlines and comment from across the political spectrum, and attention around the world.

The source of the video is unknown, although it appears to have been originally published on Instagram Stories. In it, Ms Marin can be seen with a group of friends dancing along to songs by Petri Nygård and pop singer Antti Tuisku as they hug, sing and play up to the camera.

Among the group is photographer and influencer Janita Autio, media anchor Tinni Wikström, radio host Karoliina Tuominen, stylist Vesa Silver and MP Ilmari Nurminen, according to Finnish media outlet Iltalehti.

Finnish media also alleged shouts about drug use could be heard in the background of the clip, leading to calls for Ms Marin to take a drug test and release the results.

“The people are also allowed to expect this from their Prime Minister,” MP Mikko Kärnä, from Ms Marin’s coalition partner the Centre Party, said. Riikka Purra, chairman of the opposition Finns Party, joined him in calls for a test.

Ms Marin has responded that she has “nothing to hide” and added: “I haven’t used any drugs, so it’s not a problem to take a drug test, but I also think it’s quite special that something like this is required.”

On the question of drug use, she said: “I didn’t see any evidence that anything was used anywhere”, and suggested her friends were actually shouting about something else rather than the alleged phrase “flour gang” – which is said to be slang for cocaine use.

“When I listened to that video a few more times, I think it doesn’t even say ‘flour gang’ but something else. But maybe you can listen to it yourself one more time,” said Ms Marin.

She said she had been drinking alcohol with friends at the party, but did not disclose where or when it was. The Prime Minister added that the videos were private clips and not intended to leak, and that she would continue to see her friends and didn’t see why it was cause for police investigation.

“I have nothing to conceal or hide, and I haven’t done anything illegal,” she said.

It is not the first time Ms Marin’s partying has made headlines, after she was forced to apologise for going out clubbing after coming into contact with a Covid case. She had been earlier told not to isolate as she had been fully vaccinated, but then missed a text advising her to do so.

“I am very sorry for not understanding that I needed to do that,” she said in a statement on Facebook at the time of the incident in December.

The young Prime Minister has been hailed as part of a new generation of “cool politicians”, and has also gained respect for her leadership amid the Ukraine war and tensions with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

German newspaper Bild recently described her as the “most important politician in her country [who has to lead it through one of the most dangerous crisis of her time… and still finds time to party.”

She has also been praised for her sense of style. Bild celebrated her wardrobe which includes flea-market finds, sparkly dresses and leather jackets and said she is part of the “cool generation” of new politicians. “Casual, modern and self-confident – that’s how politics can work. Marin stands for the ‘cool generation’, which Putin definitely doesn’t like,” it said.

In July, Ms Marin was hailed “effortlessly cool” after attending the Ruisrock festival in Turku in leather jacket and denim shorts.

Many on social media appeared nonplussed at her letting off steam by dancing with friends. One Twitter user known as Vlad simply said: “Pffff. She’s best.”

Twitter user Stanley Kaye said: “If a prime minister’s hobby was to read literature or go to opera then nobody would bat an eyelid. If she relaxes by partying then she should go for it.”

Journalist Camille Tawil wrote: “Is she the ‘coolest’ prime minister in the world? Someone else in her position might be worried with regard to ‘important’ issues: joining Nato, war in Ukraine, inflation, high energy prices! @MarinSanna is partying. Some (many!) may criticize her… I think she is cool!”