Finnish PM’s videos get viral

HELSINKI, Finland – August 19 (ONLINE) Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s videos while ‘partying’ have gone viral which showed Marin, Finland’s 36-year-old leader, dancing with friends in a private setting.

Reacting to the development, Marin has acknowledged partying “in a boisterous way” after the release of private videos — but said she is angry that the footage, which prompted criticism from political opponents, was leaked to the media.

“These videos are private and filmed in a private space. I resent that these became known to the public,” Marin told reporters in Kuopio, Finland.

“I spent a night with my friends. We just partied, also in a boisterous way. I danced and sang,” she said.

The footage shows Marin and five others posing towards a camera and dancing. Another clip appears to show Marin on the floor, singing toward the camera.

It had prompted some of Marin’s opponents to criticize her behavior as unbecoming of a prime minister. Mikko Karna, an opposition MP, tweeted that Marin should undergo a drug test.

Marin told reporters that alcohol was consumed but she was not aware of any drug use during the party.

Supporters meanwhile have defended her, and charged critics with applying a double standard.

“Why can’t she party after work? Do we expect our leaders not to be human beings?” tweeted Ashok Swain, a Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Sweden’s Uppsala University.

Marin has denied the leaking of the videos was part of a blackmailing scheme. “I am not being blackmailed. These are private videos and they were not supposed to be public,” the prime minister said, adding that “they are filmed this summer and in a private home. I am not telling whose home it is.”