A mobile phone video showed Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin dancing at a private party – the Nordic country has been discussing a second film since the end of this week. The 36-year-old can be seen dancing in a club in Helsinki together with the Finnish singer Olavi Uusivirta (39). Marin had previously stated that she had taken a drug test.
A video was released on Thursday showing the head of government celebrating, dancing and singing with friends. Some Finnish journalists claim to have heard statements about drugs in the video. Marin said she drank alcohol that night but was unaware that drugs were being used. “I haven’t done anything illegal,” she said.
Now we are talking about the dance with Uusivirta: The two keep touching shoulders and hips. For a brief moment, the musician leans forward as if to whisper something in her ear. Some want to see a kiss on the neck in it – even if that is not clear to see.
“We are friends”
Speaking at a press conference on the debate on Friday in Helsinki, the leader of the Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP) said she had no memory of being kissed on the neck. She thinks Uusivirta wanted to tell her something. “I believe that these things are part of my private life and I will not comment on them in detail,” the married Marin continued – adding that she did not think anything inappropriate was happening in the video.
Uusivirta also commented on the recording via Instagram on Friday. “There has been public speculation about the nature of the relationship between me and Prime Minister Sanna Marin. I can only tell you how it is: we are friends and nothing inappropriate has happened between us,” he wrote.
Breach of official duties?
The first party video, which showed Marin dancing with several friends at a private party, sparked a discussion in Finland – especially on social media – about the prime minister’s public appearances and a possible breach of her official duties .
It is also about the question of whether the head of government should have had an official representative during the celebration a few weeks ago, at which she said she drank alcohol. Shortly before, Marin said she had returned early from her vacation for an appointment. Therefore, according to the government, no representation was scheduled for the day in question.
“The prime minister is allowed to get drunk”
After the criticism in connection with the private party, Marin said he took a drug test. The result is expected in about a week. “I’ve never taken drugs in my life,” Marin told journalists on Friday. “I really wish people wouldn’t claim these things without evidence.”
Many of her compatriots reacted calmly to the behavior of their prime minister. “The prime minister is allowed to get drunk,” Elli Kojola from the Finnish city of Tampere told radio station Yle. “But she also has to be careful how she presents herself. Someone always sees you.” Marin said Friday she’s had “a lot of encouraging messages” from people.
Source: Nachrichten
