Finland’s local elections a test for nation’s young leader

Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva/AP)

Finland is holding local elections which are seen as a first test for its popular young Social Democratic Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who took office 18 months ago, shortly before the pandemic, and whose party is behind in the polls.

The vote to renew local councils in Finland’s more than 300 municipalities is viewed as a key indication of parties’ popularity ahead of the country’s 2023 parliamentary election.