Finland’s prime minister took a drug test when the party video caused an uproar
HELSINKI, Aug 19 (Reuters) – Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday she had taken a drug test following the release of video footage this week showing her partying with friends and vowed she had never used illegal drugs.
Marin, 36, also said that his ability to perform his duties was intact on the Saturday night in question and that he would have left the party if he had been required to work.
Video clips of Marin celebrating with well-known Finnish influencers and artists began circulating on social media this week, and were soon published in various media outlets in Finland and abroad. Read more
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“In the last few days, there have been some pretty serious public allegations that I was in a space where drugs were used, or that I used drugs myself,” Marin told a news conference.
“I consider these accusations very serious and although I consider it unfair to require a drug test, for the sake of my own legal protection and to clarify my possible suspicions, I have taken a drug test today, the results of which will be available in about a week.”
Marin, who became the world’s youngest head of government in December 2019, had come under pressure from the coalition and the opposition for a drug test after the videos emerged.
Marin, the leader of the Social Democrats, said he had never used drugs and had not seen anyone using them at a party he attended.
While many have praised Marini for balancing a demanding job with an active private life, others have questioned her decision to allow herself to be filmed, even if the videos are not released.
At a time when Europe is troubled by Russia’s war in Ukraine, Marin has also faced criticism that her partying could interfere with her ability to carry out her duties quickly if a sudden crisis were to strike Finland.
“If there was a crisis situation, I would know about it before midnight on Saturday night,” he told reporters, adding that the Finnish armed forces are well equipped to anticipate military crises that might affect the country.
Finland, which has a long land border with Russia, has applied for NATO membership with its neighbor Sweden after the war in Ukraine.
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Reported by Johan Ahlander and Essi Lehto; Editing by Niklas Pollard and Gareth Jones
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