HELSINKI (AP) - Sanna Marin is expected to be tapped as Finland’s prime minister Tuesday, becoming the world’s youngest head of government at the head of a five-party, center-left coalition.
The Nordic country’s Parliament, the 200-seat Eduskunta, is set to approve Marin, whose government will have a comfortable majority of 117 seats, later Tuesday.
Having emerged as Finland’s largest party in the April election, the Social Democrats can appoint one of their own to the post of prime minister in the Nordic nation of 5.5 million.
The coalition of the Social Democrats, the Center Party and three junior partners has said they are committed to the government program agreed upon after the April election and will continue in Marin’s new Cabinet.
Marin who is the number two in the Social Democratic Party, takes over from incumbent Antti Rinne, who stepped down a week ago after a key coalition partner, the Center Party, withdrew its support, citing lack of trust.
Rinne has said he plans to continue as party leader until a party congress next summer.
Tuesday’s appointment will allow Marin to represent Finland at the Dec. 12-13 EU leaders’ summit in Brussels. Finland currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency until the end of the year.
The four other parties in the coalition are all headed by women - three of whom are in their early 30s.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.