HELSINKI: Social Democrat Sanna Marin took office here today as the world’s youngest serving Prime Minister.

Sanna Marin (Transport/Communication Minister and lawmaker), is country’s third female government leader. On Sunday 8th of December, 2019 ruling Social Democratic Party council paved the way for her to take over the government’s top post from incumbent Antti Rinne.

The thirty-four-year-old Sanna Marin, is heading a coalition with four other parties led by women. She won the confidence of parliament with 99 votes in favor and 70 against.

Taking to the Twitter she stated: “I want to build a society in which every child can become anything and in which every human being can live and grow old with dignity.”

It is pertinent to mention here that Antti Rinne had resigned last week after the Center Party, one of the members of governing centre-left coalition, stated that it had lost confidence in him over his handling of a postal strike.

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Social Democrats, that had emerged as Finland’s largest party in the April election, could appoint one of their own to PM’s post. Marin since 2015 has been Social Democratic Party’s VC.

It is pertinent to point out here that Finland currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency (until the end of the year). Lawmakers were expected to approve the appointment of Marin and her new government. This will facilitate her to represent Finland at the 12-13 Dec EU leaders’ summit in Brussels as its PM.

Congratulating her the new European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stated: “It is my great pleasure to congratulate the new Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Finland has truly taken the gender issues to the next level: all coalition parties are now led by women!” 

Finland is a country that manifests what socially liberal government can achieve via enormous spending on the welfare of its populace (in its case 5.5m).