Marin: "I haven't missed a single day of work; I'll learn my lesson"

The PM packed the market square in Lahti addressing her supporters ahead of a Social Democratic Party leadership meeting.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) was moved to tears as she gave an unscheduled speech in Lahti's market square on Wednesday, commenting on videos spread on social media this past week.

"I am a human being. In the midst of the crisis, I have been thinking about Ukraine and about all of you," the premier said with tears in her eyes.

Marin said that the past week had certainly not been the easiest of her life.

In a speech, the SDP chair told how, even with the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the pandemic and economic problems, she has sought fun and joy.

"I too am a human being. And I too sometimes long for joy, light and fun amidst these dark clouds," Marin told her supporters.

The prime minister stressed that she has not missed any of her duties because of her free time.

"I have not missed a single day of work. I haven't left a single task undone, and I won't leave this one [as prime minister] in the middle either, because all of this will go away and together we need to build a stronger country together," Marin said, adding, "I do my job. I'll learn my lesson."

Marin hoped that people would look at what she does at work and not what she does in her free time.

In the midst of the commotion, Marin said she was thinking about the people of Ukraine, its president and prime minister. She emphasised that within a shorter distance from Helsinki to Utsjoki, there was a war raging less than 1,000 kilometres away.

After the speech, Marin met with supporters in the crowd, receiving cheers, a book and a doll that looked like the PM.

Marin meeting with supporters in Lahti. Image: Tulikukka Fresnes de / Yle

The public discussion about the prime minister's party videos overshadowed the Social Democratic Party's parliamentary group meeting in Kuopio as well as the party's goals in the government's budget. The SDP party leadership will meet in Lahti on Wednesday and Friday.

In a second speech on Wednesday, Marin clarified her party's stance on the budget and the coming energy crisis.

Marin's party is pushing for support for low- and middle-income earners as inflation increases the cost of living.

"The most important thing is to find and continue ways that reach those need support fairly," Marin said in her speech.

Additionally, the party is seeking to offset the rising cost of electricity with subsidies.

On Tuesday, Marin apologised for a photo taken at the prime minister's official residence by her guests.

On Wednesday, the Helsinki police announced it will not open a preliminary investigation into videos made public last week featuring the PM.

"The police received three reports of a video showing, among others, the prime minister. Based on the requests for investigation, the police conducted a preliminary investigation into the content of the video," Helsinki police said.