The Prime Minister of Finland regrets the celebratory photo taken from the official residence
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HELSINKI, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Tuesday apologized for the public uproar over the past week over a photo of a private party she held at her official residence in July.
On Monday, the prime minister, one of the world’s youngest leaders, tested negative for drugs. It was taken to alleviate concerns when video footage of her singing and dancing with Finnish celebrities at another party was released last week. Read more
This week, another photo started circulating on social media, in which two well-known female influencers are kissing each other while covering their bare breasts with a “Finland” sign from the prime minister’s official residence in Helsinki.
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“I don’t think the photo is appropriate. I apologize for it. Such a photo should not have been taken, but otherwise nothing special happened in the meeting,” Marin told reporters, confirming that the photo was of her apartment. .
Marin, 36, who has made no secret of enjoying her free time, said the photo was taken at a private party with friends after a music festival in July.
“We saunad, swam and spent time together,” he described the party at his seaside apartment.
Finns have been divided over the prime minister’s behavior, with some expressing support for the young leader’s ability to balance his private life with his high-profile career, while others have raised questions about whether his free-time activities would impair his judgment.
Social Democrat leader Marin, who became the world’s youngest head of government in December 2019, agreed to a drug test on Friday, saying he had never taken drugs and had not seen anyone do so at a party he attended. Read more
Marin told Reuters in January that she and her fellow young female ministers have faced widespread hate speech while in office because of their gender and appearance.
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Reported by Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto; Surgery by Bernadette Baum
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