Finnish PM apologises for topless photo as steamy images emerge

Sanna Marin gave an emotional speech after video emerged of topless women kissing at an official government residence.

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin has delivered a tearful speech after leaked photos and a video emerged of topless women kissing and partying at the government’s official Helsinki seaside residence.

The 36-year-old pubicly released the results of a negative drug test to “clear up suspicions” after footage went viral of her dancing with a group of friends and celebrities who were partying at the address.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin gave an emotional defence of her work record. Picture: AFP

“I am human,” Ms Marin said as she fought to hold back tears at her Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) event in Lahti city, north of Helsinki on Wednesday.

“And I too sometimes long for joy, light and fun amidst these dark clouds.

“It’s private, it’s joy, and it’s life.

“But I haven’t missed a single day of work.”

The 36-year-old PM said “she is only human”. Picture: AFP

It came after images circulated on social media showing two women, whose faces were blurred out, kissing and flashing their breasts with their modesty only covered by a “FINLAND” sign.

Ms Marin does not appear to be one of the women in the photo, which was posted to TikTok by model Sabina Särkkä.

Ms Särkkä since deleted the image and posted an apology message to her Instagram, saying that she deeply regretted publishing the “inappropriate” photo.

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin has come under fresh criticism after a video of her partying was leaked. Source: @visegrad24/Twitter

Ms Marin said the photo was taken in the downstairs guest bathrooms at Kesäranta during a private party after the Ruisrock music festival in July.

“In my opinion, the picture is not appropriate. I apologise for it. That kind of a picture should not have been taken but otherwise, nothing extraordinary happened at the get-together,” Ms Marin told reporters.

She added that the event didn’t pose a threat to national security, as all guests were identified to security and that “security arrangements were in place at all times” at the Kesäranta property.

“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,” Ms Marin said.

“We had sauna, swam and spent time together.”

Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin apologises. Picture: AFP

The images were taken about a month before the video leaked showing Ms Maring dancing and partying with a group of friends and celebrities.

Comments on the video were interpreted by some as referring to narcotics, leading to her drug test to “clear up any suspicions”.

“Never in my life, not even in my youth, have I ever used any drugs,” she said. Marin - who was appointed in 2019 at the age of 34 - has previously been the target of criticism over parties at her official residence.

Ms Marin’s urine sample was tested for the presence of various drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis and opioids, Iida Vallin, a special adviser to the prime minister, told AFP.

“Drug test taken from Prime Minister Sanna Marin on 19 August 2022 did not reveal the presence of drugs,” Ms Marin’s office said in a statement, adding that the results were signed by a doctor.

Originally published as Finnish PM apologises for topless photo as steamy images emerge