Finnish PM’s night out sparks media frenzy

Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who enjoyed Helsinki nightlife with friends on Saturday, received a series of text messages that instructed her to self-isolate after Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto tested positive for COVID-19. Her failure to do so has prompted an angry reaction.

The prime minister always carries two phones, at least in principle. On Saturday, Marin received two text messages to her government phone instructing those who had come into contact with Haavisto to self-isolate.

However, the PM had left that phone at home and only had the parliamentary phone with her to which she received a call from the Secretary of the State explaining the situation.

Marin chose to party, prompting the opposition to accuse her of being irresponsible.

Those defending her, including some constitutional experts, have called the incident harmless and asked questions about the government’s internal communications.

Marin has conceded that she could have been more cautious, and since Sunday, she has received two negative test results but will still avoid social contacts.

(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)