Finnish PM apologizes for ‘inappropriate photo’ of topless women in official residence

Marin states that the party took place in July, after the Ruisrock music festival. This week, the photo taken started circulating on social media. It shows how two well-known Finnish influencers kiss each other. Their breasts are bared, but hidden behind a sign that reads ‘Finland’, news agencies Reuters and AFP report. All this in the official residence of the Finnish Prime Minister, Kesaränta in Helsinki. According to Marin, the photo was taken in one of the downstairs toilets in the building.

“In my opinion, this photo is inappropriate,” 36-year-old Marin told the press today. “I do apologize for that. Such a photo should not have been taken. On the other hand, nothing crazy happened during that meeting,” she concludes firmly. The group of people spent time together, says the prime minister. They swam together and went into the sauna.

Also read: An incredible leader or a breath of fresh air? ‘Coolest prime minister in the world’ is under fire again.

The photo and apology come at a difficult time for Marin. Last week, she was the center of a riot when videos of her dancing and partying were leaked. The footage shows revelers singing, hugging and dancing together in a private apartment. The prime minister reacted with surprise to the fuss and emphasized that the images were taken a few weeks ago in a private setting and that she assumed they would not leak. “It feels bad that they have been published,” Marin said.

The leak of the video saddens her, she said, but it won’t change her behavior. In Finland, the prime minister already has the image of being a party animal. “I’m going to be the exact same person I’ve been until now.” Of the people in the video, she says: “Yeah, these are still my friends.” Another video showed the Prime Minister dancing with a singer in a VIP area of ​​a club.

Marin was forced to take a drug test. Although she denied ever using drugs on Friday, including at the party in the private apartment, the suggestion was aroused in accusations by others. The test result was negative on Monday. The Prime Minister’s website states that the drug test statement is signed by a doctor and that Marin pays for the test himself.

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The prime minister received many statements of support from home and abroad, especially from women. They believe that a prime minister should also be able to enjoy life in private time and should be able to party and dance. According to the British newspaper The Guardian hundreds of Finnish women share dance and party videos of themselves under the hashtag #solidaritywithsannamarin.

Yet there is also criticism, especially from the political opponents of social democrat Marin. According to some, her behavior is unworthy of Prime Minister. Some local media accuse her of having ‘no control’ over recordings that others make and can distribute. According to various media, the photo of the two topless women first appeared on a TikTok account of one of the influencers in the photo, Sabina Sarkka (33), a former contestant in the Miss Finland pageant.

In 2019, Marin took office as the world’s youngest prime minister. “We won’t complete Finland in four years, but it can get better. I want to build a society where every child can become anything and where every person can live with dignity and grow old,” Marin wrote on Twitter at the time.

Three and a half weeks after she celebrated her 34th birthday, Marin became head of government. Until the fall of his cabinet in May 2019, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who is nine months younger than Marin, was the youngest prime minister.

Last January, Marin told Reuters about how she and female ministers from her team were treated. They receive many hate messages because of their gender and appearance.