Work hard, party hard: Finland’s Sanna Marin faces backlash after leaked dancing video

Of all the EU leaders to party with, you’d probably have the most fun with Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported Wednesday that, in new videos posted on social media, the prime minister was spotted partying with several Finnish personalities, including MP Ilmari Nurminen and media anchor Tinni Wikström.

In the leaked footage, spread over multiple clips on Instagram Stories, Marin is seen dancing exuberantly with several friends, and people are heard in the background shouting about cocaine, according to Finnish media.

Finnish MP Mikko Kärnä, from Marin’s coalition partner Centre Party, urged the prime minister to take a drug test and release the results publicly. “The people are also allowed to expect this from their prime minister,” he tweeted.

In a press conference Thursday morning, Marin denied that she had used drugs and said that she had “nothing to conceal or hide.”

“I have danced, sung, celebrated, done legal things,” the prime minister said. Marin added that she was not drinking heavily.

She also hit out at the leaker. “I trusted that since the videos are private and published at a private event, they would not be published,” Marin said. “It feels bad that they have been published.”

The clips have sparked a mixed reaction online, with some critics lambasting Marin for what they say is irresponsible behavior, while others see a potential popularity boost for the 36-year-old prime minister.

Marin came under fire last December for having a night out shortly after a government colleague tested positive for coronavirus.