Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) has spoken up in support of her Finnish counterpart, Sanna Marin, as she has been facing a backlash over a leaked video in which she was dancing with friends, at a private party, reports Estonian Public Broadcasting ERR.
«We are all human and I really like to dance,» Kallas said, adding that for her also such opportunities are very few, Postimees reports (link in Estonian).
Meanwhile sociologist and Tartu city councillor Eveliis Padar noted that Kallas would have likely received similar treatment if she had been filmed in such circumstances, adding that this would also be to the critics’ shame.
The Councillor said: «If something similar were to happen in Estonia, naturally there would be those among the political opposition, «useful idiots» and traditionalist «fake puritans», who would try to score points there.»
«However, any foaming at the mouth on pseudo–issues weakens us as a nation,» Padar added.
The fact that the video went viral plays into Russian security services’ hands. While communications expert Ilmar Raag told Postimees that the Kremlin may be behind its propagation online.
The video was taken on a smartphone at a private party in an apartment, raising questions of how it came to be leaked in the first place.
Critics have questioned the prime minister’s actions in the light of the current security and energy crises.
Other videos of the prime minister dancing, including one in somewhat of a clinch with a male Finnish popstar, have since emerged, though whether the use of cocaine is verbally referenced in the private party video is not clear.
Finnish prime minister submitted to a drugs test on Friday, August 19, the results of which should be made known soon.
The Finnish prime minister also faced criticism last December after having spent the evening at a nightclub, leaving her official work phone behind. This meant she missed a Covid close–contact notification at the time it was sent.