Sanna Marin is the former Prime Minister of Finland, who made history as the youngest person to hold the office in the country and the third youngest head of state in the world at the time of her appointment.
She is also the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 2020 to 2023.
She retired from Finnish politics in September 2023 and became a strategic advisor to the Tony Blair Institute.
She is known for her progressive views on social issues, response to the COVID-19 pandemic and support for Finland’s NATO membership.
File
- Full name: Sanna Mirella Marin
- Date of birth: November 16, 1985
- Age: 38 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Helsinki, Finland
- Nationality: Finnish
- Occupation: Former politician, strategic advisor
- Height: 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
- Parents: Rauno Marin (father), Pirkko Marin (mother)
- Siblings: None
- Spouse: Markus Räikkönen (d. 2020, div. 2023)
- Children: Emma Amalia Marin (daughter, born 2018)
- Relationship status: Divorced
- Net worth: $6 million
Early life and education
Sanna Marin, now 38 years old, was born on November 16, 1985 in Helsinki, Finland. Her parents, Rauno Marin and Pirkko Marin, separated when she was very young, and she was raised by her mother and her mother’s girlfriend.
She grew up in a low-income family and faced financial hardship as well as social stigma.
She moved to Tampere with her family when she was six years old and attended Pirkkala High School. She was interested in politics and social justice from an early age and joined the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party in 2006.
She studied management science at Tampere University and graduated with a master’s degree in 2017. She wrote her thesis on the role of trust in local politics.
Personal life
Sanna Marin met Markus Räikkönen, a communications director, in 2004 when they were both 18 years old.
They dated for 16 years and married in August 2020 in a private ceremony at Kesäranta residence, the prime minister’s official residence.
They had a daughter, Emma Amalia Marin, in January 2018. Marin became the first Finnish prime minister to take parental leave while in office.
She and Räikkönen announced their divorce in June 2023, citing irreconcilable differences and mutual respect. They agreed to share custody of their daughter and remain friends.
Career
Sanna Marin began her political career in 2012 when she was elected to the Tampere city council. She became the city council president in 2013 and held the position until 2017.
She was elected to the Finnish parliament in 2015 and became the first deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party in 2017.
She was appointed Minister of Transport and Communications in 2019 under Prime Minister Antti Rinne.
After Rinne resigned amid controversy over the postal strike, the coalition parties chose her as their successor. She took office as prime minister on 10 December 2019 at the age of 34. She is the world’s youngest female head of state and Finland’s third female prime minister.
As prime minister, she responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by declaring a state of emergency and imposing strict lockdown measures. She also condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and supported Ukrainian sovereignty.
She announced that Finland would apply to join NATO in May 2022 and successfully join the alliance in April 2023.
She has faced criticism for some of her actions, such as posing for fashion magazines and leaking private party videos.
In the 2023 parliamentary elections, her party lost its status as the largest party, coming in third in votes and seats. She was succeeded as prime minister by Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition Party.
She stepped down as leader of the Social Democratic Party in September 2023 and retired from Finnish politics. She took up a position as a strategic adviser on reform programmes for political leaders at the Tony Blair Institute.
Net worth
Sanna Marin’s net worth is estimated at $6 million.
She earns her income from her salary as a politician and strategic advisor, as well as from her investments and properties.
Argumentative
Sanna Marin has been involved in several controversies during her political career. Some of them are:
In 2015, she proposed that Finland adopt a four-day work week and a six-hour work day to improve workers’ quality of life and productivity.
She faced backlash from some employers and politicians who said it would harm the country’s economy and competitiveness. She later clarified that this was her vision, not a policy proposal.
In 2019, she was accused of favoritism and nepotism when she appointed her former campaign manager and friend, Maria Ohisalo, as home affairs minister. She denied wrongdoing and said Ohisalo was qualified and competent.
In 2020, she sparked debate about gender equality and feminism when she posed for a fashion magazine wearing a black blazer and nothing underneath.
She received both praise and criticism for her appearance, with some calling her a role model, others calling her inappropriate and unprofessional.
She defended her choice and said she was proud of her body and her femininity. In 2021, she was caught on camera dancing and drinking at a nightclub with friends, violating COVID-19 restrictions she had imposed on the public.
She apologized for her mistake and said she forgot the rules after a long day at work. She also tested negative for the virus and did not infect anyone.
In 2022, she was accused of lying and misleading parliament and the public about details of Finland’s NATO membership application.
She insisted she consulted the president and foreign minister before making the decision, but they denied any prior knowledge or involvement in the decision.
She also claimed that she had informed her coalition partners and opposition parties, but they denied being informed or consulted. She faced a no-confidence vote but narrowly survived.
Social media
- Instagram Name: @sannamarin
- Twitter Username: @MarinSanna
