The Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has been noted for her modernity and assertiveness on the international stage, but her style is sometimes annoying in her own country. At 34, Marin became the world’s youngest prime minister in 2019 and has achieved international notoriety in her tenure. She has been praised for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and her stance against Russia in the Ukrainian war. She also led Finland’s bid to join NATO together with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, reversing the historically cautious policy towards Russia.
Despite her popularity, Marin has been criticized by the local press for being too modern for Finnish tastes. She has been nicknamed “Sanna the Party” for her nights out and has been mocked for working in a supermarket to finance her studies. In addition, there have been controversies during his tenure, from paying for breakfasts at the official residence to posting videos of his parties. Despite this, Marin has received support from many young people from other leftist parties who could vote for her in Sunday’s legislative elections.
Although there are polls suggesting that her right-wing and far-right rivals have a slight lead, some project that, if defeated, Marin could have a future in international arenas. Her tenure has been punctuated by controversy, but she has also been praised for her talents as a debater and her eloquence. Marin has broken barriers as the world’s youngest prime minister and led a historic bid to join NATO. In short, Marin embodies a modernity that stands out on the international stage and, while troublesome at home, could have a bright future in international arenas if she fails to win the election.