Finland’s outgoing prime minister Sanna Marin has announced she and her husband of three years, Markus Raikkonen, are divorcing.
The 37-year-old, who failed to win a second term in power last month, announced the news on Instagram stories on Wednesday.
“Together we’ve filed for divorce. We’re grateful for the 19 years together and for our beloved daughter,” the politician wrote.
“We’re still best friends, close to each other and loving parents. Going forward we will still spend time together as a family and with each other. We wish you will respect our privacy. We won’t comment further on this.’
The pair have been together since they were 18 years old and have a five-year-old daughter, Emma Amalia Marin.
They tied the knot at an intimate ceremony in August 2020 while Ms Marin was in office dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have lived our youth together, entered adulthood together and grown into parents for our dear daughter together,” Ms Marin added.
She became one of Europe’s youngest leaders and has been hailed for her cabinet’s handling of the pandemic, as well as for her prominent role along with President Sauli Niinisto in advocating for Finland’s successful application to join NATO.
But her party’s views on the Finnish economy, which emerged as the main campaign theme, had been challenged by conservatives.
She is stepping down as PM following her election defeat in April, where the centre-right National Coalition Party claimed victory.