An announcement has been made that outgoing Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin will file for divorce from her husband of three years, Markus Raikkonen. Through separate Instagram stories, the couple expressed gratitude for the 19 years they spent together and their shared daughter, now 5. Despite their separation, they promised to remain best friends.
Marin, who was in the office dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the time of their wedding in 2020, had previously shared the story of their relationship on Instagram, noting that they had grown up together and become parents to their daughter as a team.
The news of Marin’s divorce comes just a month after her Social Democratic Party lost Finland’s election for parliament. Marin, who at 37 was the world’s youngest prime minister when she took office in 2019, is known for her progressive policies and has been celebrated globally as a millennial role model for new leaders. However, her party trailed behind the right-wing National Coalition Party and the nationalist Finns Party in the election.
Despite the political setback, Marin remains popular among many in Finland and beyond, and her announcement of her divorce has prompted an outpouring of support from her followers on social media. Many have praised her for her transparency and for continuing to prioritize her daughter and her relationship with her ex-husband even as she transitions out of office.
Marin and Raikkonen’s decision to remain best friends after their divorce is in line with a growing trend among couples who prioritize amicable separation and co-parenting. While the reasons for their divorce are not public, their commitment to maintaining a positive relationship for the sake of their daughter serves as a reminder that the end of a romantic partnership does not have to mean the end of a meaningful connection between two people.