SYDNEY – As two of the youngest heads of government and among a tiny fraction of female international leaders, Jacinda Ardern and Sanna Marin have long faced concerns about their age and gender.
Wednesday was the first-ever visit by a Finnish prime minister to New Zealand. However, they were eager to dismiss a journalist’s question regarding the objective of the trip.
During a joint press conference in Auckland, the journalist stated, “A lot of people will be wondering if the two of you are meeting because you’re of similar ages and have a lot of interests.”
42-year-old Ardern quickly shut off the questioner.
She stated, in regard to the past prime leaders of the United States and New Zealand, “I wonder if anybody ever questioned Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of a similar age.”
The Finnish prime minister, Sanna Marin, highlighted the expanding commercial links between Finland and New Zealand.
The truth is that a greater number of males are involved in politics. It is not because of their gender alone that two ladies meet.
The 37-year-old member of a Finnish trade team, who is in New Zealand, highlighted the country’s expanding commercial connections.
She said, “We are meeting because we are prime ministers.”
This week, she will conclude her trip to the southern hemisphere in Australia.
»The leaders of New Zealand and Finland refute the age and gender question«