Finnish PM Sanna Marin cleared of misconduct over partying footage - The Guardian

An authoritative enquiry has cleared Sanna Marin of misconduct aft a leaked video showing the 36-year-old Finnish premier curate dancing exuberantly and drinking with friends and celebrities made headlines astir the world.

Multiple complaints to the parliamentary ombudsman alleged that excessive intoxicant depletion astatine the enactment successful August would person made Marin, the world’s youngest caput of authorities erstwhile she was elected successful 2019, incapable to transportation retired her authoritative duties.

However, Finland’s chancellor of justness – an autarkic bureau liable for overseeing the legality of ministers’ actions, to which immoderate national tin taxable a ailment – concluded she had not neglected her responsibilities.

There was “no crushed to fishy the premier curate of unlawful behaviour successful the show of her duties, oregon of immoderate neglect of her authoritative responsibilities”, Tuomas Pöysti, the chancellor of justice, wrote successful his ruling.

Complaints to the chancellor besides claimed her behaviour was inappropriate for a premier curate and that she had undermined Finland’s “reputation and security”.

Pöysti said the complaints had not elaborate which authoritative work the premier curate allegedly failed to fulfil, oregon which tasks she mightiness person been incapable to execute if called connected to bash so, and that helium could lone measure “concrete situations”.

A inactive from video footage of Sanna Marin partying with friends successful August. Photograph: Twitter

At the time, Marin told reporters she was “upset” that the clips, which she knew were being filmed but had believed would stay private, had been leaked. “I spent the evening with my friends, partied, adjacent successful a rowdy way, danced and sang,” she said.

Amid unsubstantiated reports that drugs whitethorn person been consumed, she denied ever having taken immoderate herself and took a test, which proved negative. “I americium human. And I excessively sometimes agelong for joy, airy and amusive amidst these acheronian clouds,” she aboriginal said.

The chancellor besides addressed complaints astir a abstracted photograph taken astatine a enactment astatine the premier minister’s residence showing the exemplary and influencer Sabina Särkkä and different pistillate – not Marin – kissing and lifting up their tops.

Pöysti said his responsibilities were confined to judging the legality of ministers’ actions and it was not his occupation to measure the “moral and social” dimensions of a premier minister’s leisure activities oregon the spot and assurance they enjoy.

Such questions are “a substance for parliament”, helium said, adding that governmental accountability “is besides weighed periodically successful antiauthoritarian elections”. The premier minister’s authoritative residence whitethorn beryllium utilized for backstage events, helium said.

Marin’s critics and governmental opponents claimed her behaviour had been inappropriate, imprudent and irresponsible, saying her prime of friends showed a deficiency of judgement and leaked photos and videos could exposure her to disapproval oregon adjacent blackmail.

Her galore supporters – including women who posted videos of themselves dancing – defended her close to party. The premier curate herself said she hoped that “in 2022, it is accepted that adjacent decision-makers get to dance, sing and spell to parties”.

She said it would beryllium up to voters successful elections to measure whether her behaviour was “suitable from their constituent of view, and what they deliberation astir it”.