Sanna
Marin, the 36-year-old Finnish Prime Minister whose dancing video has caused a
political firestorm, answered questions about the party she attended on
Thursday. Marin was speaking to journalists from Finland’s Kuopio airport where
she had gone to attend the Social Democratic Party’s summer congress.
Responding to calls from opposition leaders and coalition partners, Sanna Marin
has agreed to take a drug test.

What
happened at the party?

According
to the Finnish Prime Minister, the party had begun at a private apartment and then
continued to two bars in Finland capital Helsinki. Sanna Marin said she had
consumed mild alcoholic beverages, but no drugs. “Personally, I did not take
drugs, nor did I consume anything other than alcohol. I danced, sang, and
partied – perfectly legal things. And I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve
seen or known of others (using drugs),” she said.

In the
footage leaked, Sanna Marin can be seen dancing along with two other Finnish
celebrities — Ilmari Nurminen, a member of the Finnish Parliament and media
anchor Tinni Wikström, according to media reports.

Also Read | Finland PM Sanna Marin says yes to drug test after backlash over dancing video

Sanna Marin
said the party was about “me having a night out with friends. Partying – even in
a boisterous way – dancing and singing.”

Some media
outlets reported that the word ‘jauhojengi’ (Finnish word for powder gang)
could be heard in the background. However, there were those on social media who
said the world used was more likely to be ‘jallujengi’ or ‘jallu jenny,’ an
apparent reference to Finnish liquor Jaloviina.

Also Read | Sanna Marin’s partying video: Twitter draws parallels with AOC, Boris Johnson

Marin said
the videos that have surfaced were of a private event and even though she knew
she was being filmed; she thought the videos would remain private. Marin
refused to comment on who might have released the videos.“I am upset that these
videos have become public,” she said.

This is not
the first time Sanna Marin has landed in a controversy over partying. In December
2021, she was spotted at a nightclub after a colleague of hers tested positive
for the coronavirus. She said she was not aware of the alerts sent to her and
later apologised for the lapse in judgement.