Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has been cleared of misconduct after video in August showed her partying.
The 36-year-old defended herself after being seen dancing with friends and celebrities in the leaked footage.
Dozens of complaints are understood to have been filed, alleging Ms Marin’s behaviour undermined Finland’s “reputation and security”.
But Chancellor of Justice Tuomas Poysti concluded that Ms Marin had not neglected her duties as prime minister.
There was “no reason to suspect the prime minister of unlawful conduct in the performance of her duties or of neglect of her official duties”, he said after an official inquiry.
Ms Marin took a drug test “to clear up any doubts”, after some suggested comments heard on the video referred to narcotics. The test came back negative.
At the time, the prime minister said that the video had been filmed on “private premises” and that she had spent “an evening with friends”.
When asked about the video, she told reporters: “I am human. And I too sometimes long for joy, light and fun amidst these dark clouds.”
The incident led to many women coming out in support of Ms Marin. In Finland, women took to social media to post videos of themselves dancing in solidarity.
Ms Marin publicly thanked Hillary Clinton, after the US politician told her to “keep dancing”.
She was catapulted to power in 2019, becoming the world’s youngest serving prime minister at the age of 34.
Sanna Marin is seen as a left-winger who strongly advocates for Finland’s welfare system.
The Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine defined the first years of her premiership. She oversaw Finland’s application to join Nato after increasing public support to become members of the Western defensive alliance in response to Russia’s actions.
She is expected to join other world leaders at COP27 in Egypt next week.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
