COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Finland’s prime minister apologized after the publication of a photo that showed two women kissing and posing topless at the official summer residence of the country’s leader.
Following a clip of Sanna Marin, Prime Minister, dancing and singing along with his friends, there was much debate as to whether this 36-year-old leader of government should be allowed to have a hearty party.
Marin said that the photograph was taken at a Finnish prime minister’s residence after a concert in July. Marin does not appear in the image; the two women featured have their breasts covered with a sign that says, “Finland.”
Continue reading: Sanna Marina Faces Backlash Over Dancing video
The photo was posted by one of the women described as social media influencers.
“In my opinion, that photo is not appropriate, I apologize for that. That photo shouldn’t have been taken,” Marin said Tuesday, according to Finnish broadcaster YLE.
She said the post-festival gathering was a private party and the names of all guests were provided to the security detail that monitors the Kesäranta property, located in the northern part of Helsinki.
Two-story, wooden villa built in 1873 includes a sauna and pavilion. There is also a tennis court.
“We were using the sauna facilities and the garden area, but we did not spend time inside the Kesäranta house, although the downstairs guest toilets were in use,” Marin said, according to YLE.
Marin appears with some friends at an alternative private party as seen in the video that was leaked. She has acknowledged that she and her friends celebrated in a “boisterous way” and that alcohol — but, to her knowledge, no drugs — was involved.
Marin claimed that she was at the party over recent weeks but would not give any details. Marin said she was able to pass a drug screen Friday to end any speculation about illicit substance abuse. Marin said Monday that the results came back negative and she also paid for it herself.
One of Finland’s major newspapers, Helsingin Sanomat, reported that with a general election scheduled next year, frustration is growing among member’s of the prime minister’s Social Democratic Party.
While no one is talking about pressuring Marin to resign and she remains popular within the party, some members interviewed by the newspaper were critical of her judgment amid the war in Ukraine and Finland’s pending bid to join NATO.
Helsingin Saomat, a member of the party, anonymously stated that Finland is still a conservative country outside the capital.
Marin leads a coalition of five parties, which has received praises for helping to steer the country steadily through the COVID-19 crisis and NATO application.
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