Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin, who was one of Europe’s youngest leaders, quits politics
Former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, known for her youth and strong support for Ukraine, announced her departure from Finnish politics on Thursday.
Marin, who took office at the age of 37 in 2019, led a center-left governing coalition in Finland for two years and received accolades for her government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her vocal advocacy for Ukraine also raised her international profile, and during her tenure, Finland became the 31st member of NATO.
In her announcement, Marin expressed her eagerness to embrace a new role and believed it could benefit Finland as a whole. She acknowledged the changing political landscape and Finland’s evolving position in international affairs. In April, Finland’s decision to join the NATO military alliance marked a significant shift in Europe’s post-Cold War security dynamics in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland, historically neutral after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II, indicated a desire to align with NATO in the wake of Moscow’s actions.
During her press conference, Marin emphasized her commitment to serving Finnish voters, suggesting that her new role could enable her to do so in a different capacity. Earlier this month, she also stepped down from her position as the head of the Social Democratic Party.
Sanna Marin is set to join the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where she will assume the role of “strategic counselor.” In this capacity, she will advise various countries, governments, and leaders on policy matters aligned with her expertise, such as good governance, technology, climate, gender equality, and other issues she has previously worked on. This new role represents an opportunity for her to continue contributing to global affairs and policy development.
In the April parliamentary elections, Marin faced a tight three-way race and narrowly lost to Finland’s main conservative party. Right-wing populists secured the second position, while Marin’s Social Democrats finished third, signaling the end of her hopes for re-election. During her prime ministership, Marin led a coalition government comprising her Social Democrats, the centrist Center Party, the Green League, the Left Alliance, and the Swedish People’s Party in Finland.
Throughout her tenure, Marin’s private life and active use of social media garnered significant international attention. In August 2022, she issued an apology following the publication of a photo depicting two women kissing and posing topless at the official summer residence of Finland’s leader. The incident occurred after a video surfaced showing Marin dancing and singing with friends, sparking a debate about whether a sitting prime minister was entitled to engage in such public revelry.
Sanna Marin’s departure from Finnish politics marks a significant shift in her career, as she takes on a new role as a strategic counselor with a London-based non-profit organization, contributing her expertise to global policy matters.
