Finland’s outgoing Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, and her husband, Markus Raikkonen, have filed for divorce after 19 years of marriage.
The couple, who have a five-year-old daughter together, announced the news on Instagram. Despite the separation, Marin emphasized that they remain best friends and will continue to spend time together as a family.
Marin, who became the world’s youngest prime minister in 2019, is set to leave office after her party’s loss in the general election last month. Although her party gained seats and secured a significant share of the vote, her coalition partners suffered losses, leading to her government’s resignation. She will continue to serve on a caretaker basis until a new government is formed.
During her tenure, Marin garnered praise for her leadership in steering Finland through the Covid-19 pandemic and for her efforts in strengthening Finland’s position within NATO. However, she has also faced criticism and scrutiny over her personal life. In August 2022, a video of her singing, dancing, and drinking at a party circulated on social media, drawing controversy. Marin defended herself, stating that it was a private gathering with friends. She took a drugs test, which came back negative, and was subsequently cleared of misconduct by parliament.
Despite the challenges and polarizing opinions, Marin has had a significant impact on Finnish politics and inspired support from many women, who demonstrated solidarity by posting videos of themselves dancing on social media.
