Heated gender controversy in Auckland between the two prime ministers of New Zealand and Finland, Jacinda Ardern and Sanna Marin, and a journalist who maliciously asked at a press conference whether their meeting had been organized because they were both young women in leadership positions. When asked if they would meet “because they are of a similar age and have a lot in common,” Ardern immediately cut him short who dismissed the issue to the sender: “I would like to know if anyone has ever asked former US President Barack Obama and former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key if they met because they are the same age”.
“The fact that two prime ministers meet is not only because of their gender – she said – of course we have a higher proportion of men in politics, that’s the reality. Our meeting today is an opportunity to talk about economic opportunities between the two countries. It is our job to encourage them, regardless of our gender.”
Sanna Marin also reacted immediately: “We met because we are both prime ministers‘ he stressed, as reported by the BBC. Marin is in New Zealand for his first official tour and is the first Finnish Prime Minister to visit the country.
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