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Finland’s Marin steps down as party leader

Sanna Marin was the most popular prime minister in Finland this century. She was praised for her handling of the Covid pandemic and led her country to join Nato with overwhelming support. In Sunday’s election, her centre-left Social Democratic party (SDP) increased its vote share and number of MPs. Nonetheless, she and the SDP have been defeated – and Finland is moving to the right, as Marin tacked to the left to shore up the SDP’s support, the right successfully leaned into concerns about Finland’s growing national debt and persuaded voters that it was time to cut social programs to balance the books. The Associated Press has the story:

Finland’s Marin steps down as party leader

Newslooks- HELSINKI (AP)

Finland’s outgoing prime minister, Sanna Marin, said Wednesday that she will resign as the leader of her Social Democratic Party at the next party congress in the autumn, saying she hopes it will enable her “to open a new page in my own life.”

“Now is the time to get in line again and leave the chairman’s place,” Marin, 37, said during a news conference in Helsinki. She said she would continue as a lawmaker in Parliament.

Social Democratic Party SDP chair and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin arrives to meet with the media at the Parliament in Helsinki, Finland, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Marin announced that she will not seek another term as chair of SDP. (Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

The Social Democratic Party came in third in Sunday’s election, dashing Marin’s hopes of staying on as prime minister. Finland’s main conservative party claimed victory in an extremely tight three-way race in which right-wing populists took second place.

Marin, who has been prime minister since 2019, is a highly popular figure internationally and at home, but acknowledged that her premiership had put a strain on her personally.

“My endurance has been put to the test,” Marin admitted.

Social Democratic Party SDP chair and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin talks to the media at the Parliament in Helsinki, Finland, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Marin announced that she will not seek another term as chair of SDP. (Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

She said her Cabinet has gone through some rough periods in the past years and the center-left government has had to resort to difficult decisions. Marin has won praise, among other things, for steering Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic and championing the country’s NATO bid together with President Sauli Niinistö, and for being a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Social Democratic Party is presented flowers during an election party in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, April 2, 2023. Finland’s center-right National Coalition Party claimed victory with 97.7% of votes counted in an extremely tight three-way parliamentary race. They appeared to beat the ruling Social Democrats led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Her private life and active social media usage have received a lot of international coverage during her premiership. Marin said she hopes to be able to live “a slightly more peaceful life” in the future.

“These have been exceptionally difficult years and difficult times,” Marin said, “Now that the election result is like this, I consider that I have the opportunity to open a new page in my own life.”

La primera ministra finlandesa Sanna Marin, al centro, aplaude al ver los resultados electorales, el domingo 2 de abril de 2023, en Helsinki. (AP foto/Sergei Grits)

Marin’s Cabinet will officially resign on Thursday. Talks to form a new government are to begin next week under the leadership of Petteri Orpo, the head of the National Coalition Party.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Social Democratic Party cheers her supporters during an election party in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, April 2, 2023. Finland’s center-right National Coalition Party claimed victory with 97.7% of votes counted in an extremely tight three-way parliamentary race. They appeared to beat the ruling Social Democrats led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

The Social Democrats would be open to being a part of the new government, too, Marin said. However, she ruled out the possibility of taking a ministerial post herself. The party congress of the Social Democrats takes place in September.

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