Finland's "Party Prime Minister" Sanna Marin will no longer be in power as the main conservative party clinched victory in the parliamentary elections, defeating the left-wing current PM.
Marin was thrust into the limelight last year when a leaked video showed her dancing exuberantly and drinking with friends and celebrities.
There were unsubstantiated reports that drugs may have been consumed and she took a test, which proved negative.
“I am human. And I too sometimes long for joy, light and fun amidst these dark clouds,” she later said.
The centre-right National Coalition Party (NCP) claimed victory with all of the votes counted, coming out on top at 20.8 per cent. They were followed by the right-wing populist party The Finns with 20.1 per cent, while the Social Democrats garnered 19.9 per cent.
With the top three parties each getting around 20 per cent of the vote, no party is in a position to form a government alone.
“Based on this result, talks over forming a new government in Finland will be initiated under the leadership of the National Coalition Party,” said the NCP's leader Petteri Orpo, as he claimed victory surrounded by supporters gathered in a restaurant in the capital, Helsinki.
Marin's Social Democrat party ended its four-year reign which she led at age 37 as one of Europe’s youngest premiers.
Her time in power has received international praise for her vocal support of Ukraine and her prominent role in advocating for Finland’s successful application to join NATO.
She said in the wake of the results: “Democracy has spoken, the Finnish people have cast their vote, and the celebration of democracy is always a wonderful thing. We have good reason to be happy about this result.”
Orpo, a 53-year-old former finance minister, told the public broadcaster, Yle, that the result was a “big victory … a strong mandate for our policies”, adding that his party would be leading the coalition talks.
Orpo has kept open his options for a coalition. He could join forces with Marin’s Social Democrats or team up with the Finns party for a more rightwing alliance.
Marin's personal popularity remained high throughout her tenure, but unfortunately, a recession is forecast and inflation is surging.
This led to the opposition accusing her government of excessive borrowing and inflated public spending — they plan to impose tough cuts, particularly on welfare budgets.
"The most important thing in the next government is to fix our economy, push economic growth, balance the public economy. And the second very important issue is to build up NATO-Finland," Orpo said.
Meanwhile, the Finns Party leader Riikka Purra said the populist party would focus on shaping policies regarding migration, climate, crime and energy if it becomes a partner in the next government.
Observers say the result means a power shift in Finland's political scene as the nation is now likely to get a new centre-right government with nationalist tones.
The initial voter turnout in the election was 71.9 per cent, slightly down from the 2019 election.
