Finland elects Sanna Marin, the youngest-ever Prime Minister

Finland's Social Democrats elected a 34-year-old former transport minister to the post of the prime minister, making her the youngest head of government in the country's history. Sanna Marin narrowly won yesterday's vote to replace outgoing leader Antti Rinne, who resigned on Tuesday after losing the confidence of the coalition partner Centre Party over his handling of a postal strike.

Former PM



Antti Rinne had headed Finland's centre-left five-party coalition since June, and Marin's appointment is unlikely to lead to significant policy changes by the Social Democrat-led administration. Rinne stepped down after several weeks of political crisis over a plan to cut wages for 700 postal workers. Parliament is expected to formally swear in the new prime minister tomorrow.