Marin is the former transport minister. (Credit Anadolu Agency/Getty Editorial)
Sanna Marin has become Finland's youngest ever prime minister, having been nominated to the position at the age of 34. The new leader heads a new female-led coalition cabinet following the resignation of Antti Rinne.
The Social Democratic Party's (SDP) Marin narrowly won Sunday's vote to replace Rinne, who resigned, Tuesday, upon losing the confidence of the coalition partner Center Party following his handling of a postal strike.
"We have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust," said Marin, following her victory. "I have never thought about my age or gender, I think of the reasons I got into politics and those things for which we have won the trust of the electorate."
At 34, Marin also becomes one of the world's youngest leaders, ahead of Ukraine's prime minister Oleksiy Honcharuk and North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, both 35, and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern, 39.
Marin is the country's third female prime minister, well ahead of other European nations. The new PM first came to political prominence at the age of 27 when she headed Tampere's council.
Marin had stepped in for Rinne when he was ill previously in his tenure. (Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
There are now more female European leaders, 14, than ever before in the continent's history. Alongside newcomers like Marin and her Belgium counterpart Sophie Wilmes, are long standing leaders like Angela Merkel and Norway's prime minister Erna Solberg.
Finland's five party coalition is now run by five female leaders, four of whom are in their thirties: Li Andersen, Left Alliance; Katri Kulmin, Centre Party; Maria Ohisalo, Green League; as well as the SDP's Marin. Anna-Maja Henriksson, 55, of the Swedish People's Party of Finland, is the country's justice minister.
Marin's appointment is unlikely to lead to significant policy changes by the Social Democrat-led administration.
"We have a shared government program which we have committed to," Marin said. The government has been prioritising an increase to public spending following years of austerity combined with a pledge to make Finland carbon neutral by 2035.
Despite this Rinne, the country's first left-wing prime minister in 20 years, was forced out of office after 700 postal workers struck over plans to cut their wages. The striking postal workers, were joined in solidarity by workers from other sectors who are currently in the middle of a three-day strike, shutting down production at some of Finland's largest companies.
Marin has a fight on her hands to regain the public's trust, with the SDP polling at around 15 percent.
The new leader also faces the awkward matter of the European Union's new budget. Finland holds the rotating presidency of the EU and will play a crucial role in mediating between rival European factions.
(With input from AFP)