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).
The two keep touching each other’s shoulders and hips. For a brief moment, the musician leans forward as if to whisper something in her ear. Some want to recognize a kiss on the neck in it – even if that is not clearly visible.
In a press conference on the debate in Helsinki on Friday, Marin said she did not remember being kissed on the neck. She thinks Uusivirta wanted to tell her something. “I think these things are part of my personal life. And I won’t comment on them in detail,” the married Marin said – adding that she doesn’t think anything inappropriate is 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. All I can say is that we are friends and nothing inappropriate has happened between us,” he wrote.
The first party video, which saw Marin dancing happily with several friends at a private party, sparked a debate in Finland, particularly 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.
After the criticism in connection with the private party, the Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has meanwhile made a drug test according to her own statements. The result is expected in about a week. “I’ve never done drugs in my life, not even as a teenager,” Marin said. “I really wish people wouldn’t say these things without evidence.”
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.
Marin emphasized that she had no foreseeable appointments that weekend and was also available during the party. “Meetings are not convened in the middle of the night,” said the Social Democrat on Friday. If it had been necessary, she could have left the party and worked at any time.
