Finland's Sanna Marin, 34, becomes world's youngest PM
Finland's Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Sunday selected 34-year old Transport Minister Sanna Marin to become the youngest head of government in the country's history.
Finland’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Sunday selected 34-year old Transport Minister Sanna Marin to become the youngest head of government in the country’s history.
Marin, who narrowly won a vote carried out by the SDP to replace former premier Antti Rinne, will also become the world’s youngest Prime Minister, ahead of Ukraine’s 35-year-old Oleksiy Honcharuk, reported Sputnik.
At 34, Marin is two years younger than long-time Centre Party leader Esko Aho, who became Finland’s Prime Minister in 1991 at the age of 36.
“We have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust,” Marin told reporters on Sunday night, while deflecting questions about her age.
“I have never thought about my age or gender, I think of the reasons I got into politics and those things for which we have won the trust of the electorate.”
Marin has been serving as the country’s Minister of Transport and Communications since June. She also led the Social Democratic party during Rinne’s extended sick leave last winter.
Rinne had to step down from the post of Prime Minister after a key coalition partner, the Center Party, withdrew its support, citing lack of trust.
Marin’s nomination is yet to received parliament’s and the President’s nod.
Parliament is expected to formally swear in the new prime minister on Tuesday.
(With input from agencies.)