Clockwise, Marin, 34, Anderson 32, Ohisalo, 34, Henriksson 55, and Kulmini 32, Pix BBC
By the time she is sworn in as Prime Minster of Finland during the week, Ms Marin will be the world’s youngest sitting prime minister at age 34. The mother of a 22-months daughter will be the third female prime minister in the Nordic country. New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern is 39, while Ukrainian premier Oleksiy Honcharuk is 35.
She is currently transport minister and was picked by her Social Democratic party to succeed its leader, Mr Antti Rinne, quit as PM after losing the confidence of a coalition member when the party failed to address a postal strike sparked by the government’s stand to cut wages.
Marin will lead a centre-left coalition with four other parties, all headed by women, three of whom are under 35.
Quoting media reports, the BBC say Sanna Marin was raised in a “rainbow family”, living in a rented apartment with her mother and her mother’s female partner. She told the Menaiset website (in Finnish) in 2015 that as a child she felt “invisible” because she was unable to talk openly about her family.
“But she said her mother had always been supportive and made her believe she could do anything she wanted.
“She was the first person in her family to go to university.
“Ms Marin rose quickly through the ranks of the Social Democrats, heading the city administration in Tampere at the age of 27 and becoming an MP in 2015.
“She has been transport and communications minister since June.”
“The Social Democrats reportedly emerged as the largest party in elections held in April, and so can appoint the prime minister who leads the coalition government.
“Meanwhile, the Centre Party said Katri Kulmuni would be named as finance minister. The 32-year-old took over as its leader in September.
“The other three leaders were ministers in Mr Rinne’s government and are expected to continue in their posts – the Left Alliance’s Li Andersson as education minister; Green leader Maria Ohisalo as interior minister; and Anna-Maja Henriksson of the Swedish People’s Party as justice minister.
“Finland currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, and MPs are likely to approve the new government ahead of the EU summit in Brussels on 12 December.”
