Sanna Marin: Ex-Finnish PM quitting politics after ‘hot girl’ summer

Marin, 37, has joined the non-profit organisation headed by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair as a “strategic counsellor” in a career twist on Thursday, the NY Post reports.

“Time to move on,” Ms Marin said, according to Finnish outlet Yle.

“I am eager to step into a new role. I also believe that it can benefit the whole of Finland. I believe that I can serve those voters (in Finland) well and maybe even better in the new assignment.”

Founded in 2016, the Tony Blair Institute works with political leaders “to create real change for their people by advising on strategy, policy and delivery.”

Ms Marin, praised as a “pragmatic leader,” will advise political leaders on their reform programs.

“Our mission is to help political leaders worldwide deliver change for their people – and Sanna Marin knows exactly how to do that,” Mr Blair said in a statement. “Ms Marin is bold and practical, understands the role that technology can play as the enabler of a more efficient and citizen-centred state, and will lend her experience to our mission in more countries throughout the world.”

The outlet reported Ms Marin hasn’t ruled out returning to politics in the future.

Ms Marin, just 34 years old when she was named Finland’s prime minister, fell short in her re-election bid to conservative successor Petteri Orpo and the National Coalition Party in April, finishing third in the race.

She later announced she would resign from her position as the leader of the Social Democratic Party to “open a new page in my own life.”

Since leaving office, Ms Marin has been enamoured in her “hot girl” summer, where she’s attended festivals amid her divorce from her husband investor Markus Raikkonen after three years of marriage.

She exchanged her formal attire for several stylish outfits when she attended Flow Festival, a three-day music and arts bash in Finland.

The now-former pol posted a series of photos from the Helsinki-based festival, where she wore a black leather skirt paired with a pink top and heels as well as an outfit consisting of a sheer black dress.

She also posed in a pink mini dress and thigh-high boots alongside Finnish parliament member Nasima Razmyar.

Ms Marin came under scrutiny when footage from a party at her official residence surfaced last August.

In the video, Ms Marin was seen dancing and partying with a pop star while a photo of two topless influencers kissing circulated on social media.

“In my opinion, the picture is not appropriate,” Ms Marin said at the time. “I apologise for it. That kind of a picture should not have been taken but otherwise, nothing extraordinary happened at the get-together.”

Finnish parliament members demanded Ms Marin be drug tested following the incident.

She denied taking drugs and told reporters she was adamant there was nothing “to conceal or hide” during an August press conference.

Ms Marin tested negative for drugs and was cleared of misconduct in November.

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission