Finland: Sanna Marin steps down as party leader

After her electoral defeat in Finland, former Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced her resignation as leader of the Finnish Social Democrats.

The 37-year-old said in Helsinki on Wednesday, a day after Finland officially joined NATO, that she would no longer stand for election as party leader at a party conference in September. This decision has matured following the results of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

It had been difficult years, now she has a chance to step aside, Marin said. She will, however, lead the negotiations on her party’s participation in the government. She was not offered international mail, she said in response to speculation that she could look for a job in another European country after the election defeat. She is also not available as a candidate for the Finnish presidential election in early 2024, which will seek a successor to President Sauli Niinistö.

Marin’s Social Democrats were only the third strongest force behind the conservative National Coalition Party and the right-wing populist party The Finns. This marks a change of government in Helsinki. After Easter, the conservative election winner Petteri Orpo wants to talk to all parties about a possible new government coalition.

Marin has been Prime Minister of Finland since late 2019 and leads a centre-left five-party coalition. She will formally tender her resignation from this government on Thursday, Marin said. However, until a new government is found, she will remain in office in an executive capacity. After that, Marin wants to continue as a normal member of parliament. (aeg/sda/dpa)