HELSINKI, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Finland’s Sanna Marin, 34, was officially appointed as the country’s prime minister on Tuesday, becoming the world’s youngest sitting head of government.
The former transport minister takes the helm of a coalition of five parties that will all be led by women, once the prime minister takes over as head of her Social Democratic party next year. All but one of the female coalition leaders are aged under 35.
Marin became Finland’s third female prime minister after her nomination was passed in parliament by 99 votes to 70 Tuesday and President Sauli Niinisto officially appointed the new centre-left cabinet.
She succeeds Antti Rinne, who resigned last week after losing the trust of one of his coalition parties over his handling of a postal strike.
Marin has made global headlines for becoming not only Finland’s youngest ever leader, but also the world’s youngest sitting head of government, ahead of Ukraine’s Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk who is currently 35.
Marin grew up looked after by her mother and her mother’s girlfriend, and said that her “rainbow family” showed her the importance of “equality, fairness and human rights”.
She said that her childhood has strongly influenced her political priorities, which include protecting Finland’s generous welfare system and low levels of inequality.
“I come from a poor family and would not have been able to succeed and move forward were it not for the strong welfare state and the Finnish education system,” she told Helsingin Sanomat.
The Social Democrats took office in June after defeating the far-right, anti-immigration Finns Party by the narrowest of margins in April’s general election.
Speaking after Tuesday’s parliamentary vote, Marin pledged to rebuild trust in her party.
“We have promised the Finnish people change and now we must deliver on that promise. In June we agreed a government programme together and I believe it is through actions that we will best restore people’s trust,” she said. — NNN-AGENCIES
