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The Video
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shot back at a journalist who asked if they had met because of their similar ages and “common stuff.”
Marin’s visit to New Zealand was historic, marking the first time a Finnish leader had visited the country. The two leaders discussed trade between their countries, climate change, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Know more
During their joint press conference in Auckland, a reporter from New Zealand asked Arden:
A lot of people will be wondering... Are you two meeting just because you’re similar in age and have got a lot of common stuff there — when you got into politics and stuff — or can Kiwis actually expect to see more deals between our two countries down the line?
Arden, 42, responded:
“I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age. We of course have a higher proportion of men in politics, it’s reality. Because two women meet, it’s not simply because of their gender.”
Later, Marin, 37, responded:
Yeah, we are meeting because we are prime ministers, of course.
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Notable
Ardern has been asked so many sexist questions over the course of her tenure as prime minister of New Zealand that The Guardian compiled a nearly two minute long supercut of each incident.