Career Timeline of Sanna Marin: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Sanna Marin made an impact.

Sanna Marin is a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland from 2019 to 2023 and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) from 2020 to 2023. Elected to Parliament in 2015, she continued to serve until 2023, when she resigned after being re-elected in April of that year. Subsequently, in September 2023, she transitioned to a role as a strategic advisor at the Tony Blair Institute, focusing on political leaders' reform programs.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2006: Joined Social Democratic Youth

In 2006, Sanna Marin joined the Social Democratic Youth.

2008: Unsuccessful Election to City Council

In 2008, Sanna Marin ran unsuccessfully for election to the City Council of Tampere.

2010: Served as First Director of Social Democratic Youth

From 2010 to 2012, Sanna Marin served as its first director of the Social Democratic Youth.

2012: Continued as First Director of Social Democratic Youth

From 2010 to 2012, Sanna Marin served as its first director of the Social Democratic Youth.

2012: Elected to City Council

In 2012, Sanna Marin stood again and was elected to the City Council of Tampere.

2013: Became Chairwoman of City Council

In 2013, Sanna Marin became chairwoman of the City Council, serving until 2017.

2014: Elected Second Deputy Chairman of SDP

In 2014, Sanna Marin was elected second deputy chairman of the SDP.

2015: Elected to Finnish Parliament

In 2015, Sanna Marin was elected to the Finnish Parliament as an MP from the electoral district of Pirkanmaa.

2017: Re-elected to City Council

In 2017, Sanna Marin was re-elected to the City Council.

June 2019: Appointed Minister of Transport and Communications

On 6 June 2019, Sanna Marin became Minister of Transport and Communications.

December 2019: Nominated as Prime Minister of Finland

In December 2019, Sanna Marin was nominated by the SDP to succeed Antti Rinne as the Prime Minister of Finland.

December 2019: Marin Selected as Prime Minister

In December 2019, Sanna Marin was selected as prime minister of Finland following Antti Rinne's resignation, becoming the youngest person to hold the office in Finnish history at the age of 34.

January 2020: Youngest Serving Head of Government

Upon her confirmation by the Finnish parliament, at the age of 34 Sanna Marin became Finland's youngest-ever Prime Minister, making her the then youngest serving head of government until Sebastian Kurz regained that description in January 2020.

June 2020: Rinne Formally Remained Party Leader

In June 2020, Antti Rinne formally remained party leader.

August 2020: Elected Chair of the SDP

On 23 August 2020, Sanna Marin was elected chair of the SDP, succeeding Antti Rinne.

October 2020: Represented Sweden at European Council Meeting

In October 2020, when Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven could not attend a European Council meeting due to his mother's funeral, Sanna Marin stepped in to represent Sweden.

March 2022: Discussing F/A-18 Hornet Transfer to Ukraine

On 10 March 2022, Marin said Finland could discuss transferring F/A-18 Hornets to Ukraine, subject to international cooperation, training requirements and Finland's own security situation.

March 2022: President Niinistö Visited Washington, D.C.

On 4 March 2022, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö visited Washington, D.C. to meet with President Joe Biden to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on European and Finnish security.

May 2022: Finland to Apply for NATO Membership

In May 2022, Sanna Marin, along with president Sauli Niinistö, announced that Finland would apply for NATO membership.

May 2022: Marin Visited Kyiv

On 26 May 2022, Sanna Marin visited Kyiv at the invitation of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, where she met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and visited the war-torn cities of Irpin and Bucha. On 26 May 2022, Marin also signed a bilateral framework agreement on the rebuilding of Ukraine's education with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

October 2022: Apology to the Sámi people for legislative delays

In October 2022, Marin apologized to the Indigenous Sámi people for the delays in the reform of the Sámi human rights legislation. Marin stated that she would bring the legislation for a parliamentary vote even without Centre Party support.

December 2022: Visited New Zealand and Australia

In late November and early December 2022, Marin visited New Zealand and Australia, becoming the first Finnish prime minister to visit the two countries.

April 2023: Finland became a member of NATO

During Sanna Marin's term as prime minister, Finland became a member of NATO on 4 April 2023.

April 2023: Finland Joined NATO

In April 2023, Finland successfully joined NATO.

April 2023: Re-elected as Member of Parliament

In April 2023, Sanna Marin was re-elected as member of parliament.

April 2023: Concession in the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election

On 2 April 2023, Marin conceded defeat to her center-right rivals, the National Coalition, led by Petteri Orpo, as her party came in third in the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election. Marin was re-elected with a Pirkanmaa district record of 35,623 votes.

April 2023: Resignation as leader of the Social Democratic Party

On 5 April 2023, Marin announced that she would resign as the leader of the Social Democratic Party at the next party congress in the autumn.

June 2023: Founding of MA/PI Oy

In June 2023, Marin founded a company MA/PI Oy. In addition to public speaking, the company's industries include publishing and consulting.

June 2023: Petteri Orpo Succeeded Marin

On 20 June 2023, Petteri Orpo succeeded Sanna Marin as prime minister of Finland.

August 2023: Marin asks Jutta Urpilainen to be candidate for presidential election

In August 2023, Marin asked Jutta Urpilainen to be Social Democratic Party's candidate for the 2024 presidential election of Finland.

September 2023: Resignation to Tony Blair Institute

In September 2023, Sanna Marin resigned as member of parliament to become a strategic adviser on political leaders' reform programmes in the Tony Blair Institute.

September 2023: Retired from Finnish politics

In September 2023, Sanna Marin retired from Finnish politics and stepped down as leader of the SDP.

September 2023: Antti Lindtman succeeds Marin

On 1 September 2023, Antti Lindtman succeeded Marin as the leader of the Social Democratic Party.

September 2023: Marin signs with talent agency

On 28 September 2023, it was reported that Marin had signed with talent agency Range Media Partners for film, TV, audio and brand collaborations.

September 2023: Resignation as MP and new role at the Tony Blair Institute

On 7 September 2023, Marin announced her intention to resign as an MP and take up a position as a strategic advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. On 12 September 2023 her application for resignation from the Finnish Parliament was approved.