Sanna Marin, 34, (the SDP) is the new prime minister candidate of Finland. She was elected in the SDP’s party board meeting on Sunday evening. Marin received 32 votes of 61.
Marin will replace Prime Minister Antti Rinne (the SDP), who resigned last Tuesday, following the pressure of the Centre Party, who said there was no trust in Rinne to continue under his leadership. The mistrust has its roots in the massive strikes sparked by the actions of the government-owned postal service, Posti Group Oy.
Rinne, however, was allowed to continue as the government negotiator. On Sunday, the parliamentary groups in Rinne’s government—the SDP, the Centre Party, the Green League, the Left Alliance and the Swedish People’s Party—were unanimous in continuing with the program agreed upon since the government was formed six months ago.
Now, what is going to change is the prime minister who is 23 years younger and currently the minister of transport and communications, a determined woman, who said earlier that she will not avoid responsibility should she be asked to step up as a candidate for prime minister.
Marin is likely to be appointed prime minister on Tuesday when the parliament is going to vote in its plenary session.
Marin is going to be the youngest prime minister in the history of Finland. Marin, however, is not focused on her age. “I have never thought about my age, my gender, but things that have taken me into politics,” Marin said after her election.
