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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Miriam Burrell

Finnish PM Sanna Marin apologies for photo of topless women in official residence

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin

(Picture: via REUTERS)

The Finnish prime minister has said a photo of two women pulling their shirts up during a party at an official residence was “not appropiate”.

Sanna Marin has apologised for the photo that emerged from a private party she had thrown at the residence in July.

It follows a public stir over a video of her wildly dancing at a separate party, leaked last week. Ms Marin provided negative drug test results to prove she did not take anything illegal at the gathering of Finnish celebrities.

This week, another image began circulating on social media, showing two well-known female influencers kissing each other, covering their bare breasts with a "Finland" sign from the Prime Minister's official residence in Helsinki.

"In my opinion, the picture is not appropriate. I apologise for it,” Ms Marin told reporters.

The prime minister confirmed the now deleted image was taken at her residence.

“That kind of a picture should not have been taken but otherwise, nothing extraordinary happened at the get-together.”

The image was reportedly uploaded to TikTok by Sabina Sarkka, 33, a Finnish social media influencer and former Miss World contestant, the Telegraph reports.

On her Instagram account, Ms Sarkka said she “deeply regrets and apologise for my use” of the photo, labelling it “inappropiate”.

Marin, 36, who has made no secret of her enjoyment of her leisure time, said the picture was taken during a private party with her friends after a music festival in July.

"We had sauna, swam and spent time together," she said, describing the party at her seaside residence.

Finns have been divided over the premier's behaviour, with some voicing support for the young leader for combining a private life with her high-profile career, while others have raised questions about whether her judgement would be impaired by her leisure activities.

Social Democrat leader Ms Marin, who became the world's youngest serving government leader in December 2019, agreed on Friday to take the drug test, saying she had never taken drugs and that she had not seen anyone doing so at the party she attended.

Ms Marin told Reuters in January that she and her fellow young female ministers have been targeted with extensive hate speech for their gender and appearance while in office.

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