I just heard the talk from Sanna Marin at Davos 2023 (https://youtu.be/Gq9AJZMjfIM). I thought it was fantastic. She was articulate, intelligent and passionate about what she does.

What is the general feeling about her in Finland?

37 comments

  2. She has been very good at her job.

    There are people that don’t like her, think that the public is fooled and that she is just a pretty face, etc.

    Playing politics is part of her job, and I find it hard to find fault in the way she has played politics with other politicians.

  4. I’ve never been a fan of the politics her party stands for (well, I voted a social democrat once but the guy was a land surveyor and I was young).

    But the government she’s heading has done the unthinkable, most dramatic change in our foreign policy since joining EU: getting us at the doorstep of NATO. For that alone I’ll forgive almost anything.

  6. Just today an article on [MTV Uutiset](https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/mtv-n-kysely-selva-enemmisto-tyytyvaisia-marinin-hallitukseen-ikavia-sopeutustoimia-ei-ole-tarvinnut-juuri-miettia-kriisien-vuoksi-sanoo-tutkija/8635118#gs.pqcwif) (in Finnish) informed us that 63 % are happy or very happy with her government, while 32 % are unhappy or very unhappy.

    Personally I would go with happy. While she doesn’t have any previous experience as a minister (other than Rinne’s short lived cabinet) she has done very well considering the surprises like covid and Russian invasion. Would be happy with the current government coalition also after the election.

  7. Veeery differing opinions amongst finns. Some absolutely despise, some idolize, but there are many in-betweeners as well. She gets a lot done, and is very passionate about her goals and her place at the government, which is mainly why she is a rolemodel to many.

  9. Those in right doesn’t like how she has increased government debt but is likely willing to give credit about NATO application.

    She also seems to like to give buff pieces but runs away when there would be an interview with tough questions. Also if she has been forgiven a lot that man likely would not.

  10. I dislike her policy positions, But I have to admit that there has been some successes mixed in, so it isn’t all bad.

    She has gotten away with bare mentions of some things, or apprising opinions where her male predecessor got shredded. Such as predecessor Male PM was seen out in public with neat but clearly casual clothing, on his free time. and media shredded him for that for weeks. as “clown or PM?” “This is very much how PM should not be seen.” Meanwhile Marin is constantly praised for her free time casual outfit. every time she appears anywhere. not to mention some party videos that have spread.

    She has few times stepped on our presidents toes, and at some points there was some small conflict between them, And our president is fairly liked person.

    I don’t hate her, I dislike her policies, I’m former supporter of her party, But she pretty much alienated me, as to me it feels like that one of the “big 5 parties” (Finns, National Coalition, Center, Social Democrats, Left Alliance) 2nd from the left took a hard left turn when she started leading it.

    Now I’m quite unsure where I’m heading, as there isn’t really a party that I could fully commit to, But I’m not going back until She’s out.

  11. Shes acting like a child atm. I was on board with her at one point but now shes wasting money and acting like a child towards other politicians. Shes the f****** prime minister like cmon act like one…

  12. She likes to mastercard everything and bit too much into booze. Looks hot and skinny, which seems to be enough for the instagram crowd

  15. OP already listed why she’s revered among finns – the downsides to her governing style is the amount of amassed debt. A lot of finnish people are worried about national debt, and it usually is the main critique.

    I wouldn’t mind if she was our PM again.

  16. She’s great at foreign policy, however her domestic policies are rather shambles. Kinda Churchill like at that really.

    The main problem in her domestic policies are that they are far too idealistic, which never works, and she’s leftist, which makes it economically damaging.

    The best PMs we have had so far have been either moderate left or moderate right, the far end never works.

    Edit: And as you can see by silent downvotes, Sanna has quite a cult of personality going on, which also is not a good thing.

  17. She left us into massive debt and then will continue her socialistic preach from opposition when others are trying to fix the mistakes she made.

  18. First of all, she has managed to handle the big crisis – covid and Ukraine – really well during her prime minister time so far. On the other hand, she can be quite evasive with her opinions until she knows what the voters want. She ended up to be the prime minister by accident and seems to be fitting in that position quite well. In my opinion, the cabinet should be guided with a stronger hand – most of the time she just evades the difficult questions.

    People usually have a polarized feeling about her. Part of the Finns admires her for being a role model and showing that a relatively young woman can also get the job done. Some despise her just for that.

  19. I know that many worry about the debt but her government was also in permanent crisis mode. First COVID then the war. I think any government would have increased debt. It was simply inevitable. Anyone thinking that others wouldn’t have either made debt or cut social benefits into oblivion, is delusional.

    She’s not perfect but I like her a lot better than the previous PMs, some of which made me roll my eyes because they sounded very much like they have no idea what life is like for people who are aren’t wealthy.

  20. As you might have noticed by now, you will get more personal opinions then objective replies to this topic. And I’ll join the choir:

    I think her government has done a decent job in handling covid but a horrible job in handling the economy. Spending and debt has increased at a higher rate than before (not just because of covid) and with the current interest rates it creates a big problem. The government seems to go from one decision making crisis to another. I’ve also heard a number of stories about her being a very difficult and arrogant person (from friends that work in the parliament). A lot of criticism towards her is brushed of as sexist, part of it may be, but certainly not all. And she also gets away with some things because of her age and gender.

    I admit I have an issue with a politican being idolized for non-policy reasons, and I’ve seen this more now than ever in my life time (in Finland).

    This is just my opinion.

    I believe the fact is that she is fairly popular in Finland, especially among young people, women and those leaning more left. She is probably less popular among right-leaning people, the business world and entrepreneurs.

  21. Leader of “the boomer party”, old people like it, young working people not so much as they have to pay off the debt.

  22. When i look at price of groceries, petrol/diesel, i dont like her. Only small attempts to control this fiasco. And gas prices are bound to go up by like 0.5€/litre (the price would be near 2.5€/ltr) next year, your normal worker cant live with that. Most people living outside of “Kehä III” need their cars. And high gas prices equal higher food costs naturally. Surely gas prices arent everything in the world but still… Otherwise i have no major complaints about her

  23. like most politicians ours are too busy to actually understand what is going on around the world. more work they get the dumber they are

  24. Our government is full of air-headed Greenpeace activists who want to destroy our country with stupid decisions like our stupid “need” to go green.

  26. Yeah, not everyone likes her. She is very good speaker, until some real questions are presented (mainly domestic problems which should be solved). Many times she circles and avoids answering the question. During her season the government has taken shitload of new loan, which is not in line with other nordic countries at all.

  28. She is surprisingly popular but largely among those who are in the same social media bubble with her. Outside of that, not so much. She openly disrespects older people and their views, those who are not under her spell. There are lots of people who find her policies nothing but destructive and harmful.

    Political left in Finland is fragmented. Main parties are socialists, social democrats and greens. Social democrats used to be surprisingly centrist, economically. Marin has said she’d like to be in the socialist party but since that is too small, her best chance to be politically effective is to be in the biggest party, the social democrats. She has now become the sole recognized representing face of the SDP, and brought them way left, as far as socialists have ever been. Some say further.

    This is not viewed well by her own party or the rest of the left, who feel she steals their agenda, voters and future.

  30. She is not bad for a leftie and definietly knows how to brand herself. Main issue is that she tries to please everyone, which has resulted into some awkward situations where she quickly makes an U-turn when someone gets angry and she has increased debt becouse she is afraid of taking money away from voters. (yes, we had covid and war, but it would still be better to try to balance the finances atleast a little bit than just borrow more and more money).

  31. Honestly, I preferred her before she had her social media reboot a couple of years ago. She was boring and effective, which is exactly what I want in a politician. These days I find her much less likable than Ohisalo, Andersson and Henriksson.

    Overall her government has done a decent job in very challenging circumstances but I find it incredibly hard to believe it will be anything other than a Kokoomus-led government come the spring.

  33. Well, she would’ve already had to resign were she a man. She’s all the things you mentioned, but she’s also had some major political scandals that would’ve been enough the end many politicians’ careers already. Somehow, she just seems to bounce of from them. A previous prime minister, Alexander Stubb was heavily criticised because he partook in an event meant for kids. People said he made a fool out of himself and shamed the prime minister institution. Marin has been partying with drug-advocating c-list celebrities, twerked on video, and been caught being unfaithful to her husband. Ilkka Kanerva pretty much lost his job because some sexual texts to a woman. If he would’ve done the same as Marin, he would’ve ended his entire political career.

  34. She is a liar, manipulative, never knows how to accept her problems. Always blames everyone else, probably for this comment she is going to ask the EU to open an investigation to see if we are misogynistic instead of understanding that she might have mistakes

    She was on tv crying like she were famous or something, while the rest of the country is dealing with crazy stupid prices and gas cost like nuts

    Yes, she can have he private life, but there are times for everything and she clearly looks like is trying to be more in dancing with the stars than rulling the country

  35. I’m mostly happy with her, multiple crises and she’s handled them pretty well, something i don’t like though is the reduced funding for education since according to studies, every cent put into education pays itself back with a profit long term.

    However, i can understand why, she isn’t the only one in power so the decision wasn’t purely her’s, and even if it was, the aforementioned crises plus national debt kinda force you to find something to cut funding from.

  36. I’m surprised by these answers, among the people I know she’s very respected and recognized as an extremely skilled politician although her politics may divide people a bit. I guess it really depends on your social circles. Personally I find her to be tough and intelligent and an excellent PM who has managed to keep a very quarrelsome government together which is no easy task with a party like Keskusta in it…

  37. Basically sold Finland to banks to please voters and “brothers”. Doubled debt, made nonsense investments and has nothing to show for it.

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