The signs that party-loving PM Sanna Marin’s marriage was Finnished

The announcement by Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin that she is separating from her husband Markus Raikkonen after 19 years of living together may have come as a surprise to many.

But there are signs the couple’s marriage was on the rocks in recent months, not least after videos emerged in August of Marin dancing intimately with men at a nightclub.

Indeed, there are rumors in the Finnish media that the childhood sweethearts, who had been together since they were 18 years old, would divorce. And yesterday that became reality.

The cracks in their relationship have been visible in recent months, local media reports, with Marin and Raikkonen both secretly filmed in nightclubs dancing intimately with different people on separate occasions.

And the couple, both 37, who share five-year-old daughter Emma Amalia Marin, have rarely been seen together in recent months. They have appeared in public only three times in the past five months, the Finnish magazine reports Seiska.

And in February, Marin arrived alone at the Emma Gala, a prestigious music event in Helsinki, when organizers announced she would be attending alongside Raikkonen.

A month later, Raikkonen, who until recently worked at a venture capital firm, was filmed flirting and dancing intimately with an unknown woman at the Post Bar, a Helsinki nightclub, reports Seiska.

Witnesses told the outlet that the pair were provocatively dancing together, with Raikkonen holding the woman’s hips as he danced behind her.

Further images obtained by Seiska shows Raikkonen standing next to the woman at the bar, their heads together as the 37-year-old put his hand on her buttocks.

Witnesses also claimed that Raikkonen, who was apparently drunk, had tried to kiss the woman “several times” but she rejected his advances.

“What surprised me the most was how openly Markus flirted with the woman. He didn’t care at all about the looks of others, even though he is married to Sanna,” a witness told media.

The cracks in the relationship started to form after Marin herself danced intimately with several men in a Helsinki nightclub in August last year.

Marin, who is stepping down as prime minister after her election defeat last month, was secretly filmed in August dancing intimately with Finnish singer Olavi Uusivirta, 39, which led to the singer denying they were having an affair. There is no suggestion that Uusivirta is responsible for the couple’s breakup.

Uusivirta claimed that he and Marin were just “friends” and that “nothing inappropriate” had happened between them at the Helsinki nightclub.

Grainy video footage showed Marin wrapping her arms around the singer. Uusivirta was at one point seen pressing his face against her neck in a gesture that some in the Finnish media claimed was a kiss.

Witnesses told Finnish media at the time that Marin had danced the same way with two other men during the lavish night out and sat on the laps of another two.

But Finnish singer-songwriter Uusivirta, who divorced his wife in 2021, rejected any suggestion he had a relationship with his country’s leader.

In a post on his social media accounts, he said at the time: “There has been speculation in the public about the quality of the relationship between me and Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

“Hand on heart, I can just say it like it is: we are friends and nothing inappropriate has happened. I will not comment on it publicly anymore. Nice weekend!’

Leaked video footage also showed Marin dancing provocatively with Finnish social media influencer Sabina Särkkä, 33, as they wrapped their arms around each other with their legs nearly touching.

Marin wore the same white pants and black sleeveless top in both videos, suggesting they were filmed on the same night last August.

At the time, Marin insisted that “everyone needs a fun and relaxed night out” and that she should let her hair down after spending most of her time juggling the responsibilities of governing and being a mother.

She added that “nothing inappropriate” happens in the video of her dancing with Uusivirta and said her only regret was that “private” videos made it into the domain.

More video came out that night showing Marin partying with famous friends before hitting the club.

The footage showed someone shouting the words “flour gang” in the background, leading to speculation that drugs may have been taken because “flour” is slang for cocaine in Finland.

Marin submitted to a drug test after the video was leaked, which came back negative.

The footage, along with the video of Raikkonen dancing intimately with another woman, sparked rumors in the Finnish media that the couple’s relationship was on the rocks.

And yesterday, Marin announced that she and Raikkonen, a former footballer, are divorcing after 19 years together.

We filed for divorce together. We are thankful for the 19 years together and for our beloved daughter,” Marin wrote on Instagram.

“We are still best friends, close to each other and loving parents. In the future, we will still spend time together as a family and with each other. We wish you to respect our privacy. We will not comment further on this.’

The couple married in August 2020 in Kesäranta, Marin’s official residence. The ceremony was attended by 40 guests, consisting of close friends and family.

Marin shared a photo from their wedding day at the time, writing, “Yesterday we said to each other I will. I am happy and grateful to be able to share my life with the man I love.

‘We have seen and experienced a lot together, shared joys and sorrows and supported each other on the bottom and in the storm.

“We lived together in our childhood, matured and aged to our beloved daughter. Of all people you are right for me. Thank you for standing by my side.’