Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has apologised for a photo of two topless women kissing during a party at her summer palace.
It has heaped more pressure on the 36-year-old leader following footage of her gyrating with celebrity friends as she danced at a private party that has put her lifestyle in the spotlight.
After suggestions arose of her taking drugs, she took a test which came back negative last Monday.
But now another image has begun circulating on social media showing two well-known female influencers kissing each other while exposing their breasts and holding up a "Finland" sign from the Prime Minister's official residence in Helsinki.
Ms Marin has now apologised for the photo which was taken during a party last 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," Marin told reporters, confirming the photo was taken at her residence.
Ms Marin, who has made no secret of her enjoyment of her leisure time, said the picture was taken during a private party with her friends after a music festival in July.
"We had sauna, swam and spent time together," she said, describing the party at her seaside residence.
Finns have been divided over the premier's behaviour, with some voicing support for the young leader for combining a private life with her high-profile career, while others have raised questions about whether her judgement would be impaired by her leisure activities.
Social Democrat leader Marin, who became the world's youngest serving government leader in December 2019, agreed on Friday to take the drug test, saying she had never taken drugs and that she had not seen anyone doing so at the party she attended.
Commenting on the video of her dancing, Marin says she is "upset" that it didn't stay private but added that all she was doing was singing and partying which she emphasised were "perfectly legal things".
Reported in Finnish publication Yle, Marin said: "I am upset that these videos have become public. It was about me having a night out with friends. Partying -- even in a boisterous way -- dancing and singing.
"Personally, I did not take drugs, nor did I consume anything other than alcohol. I danced, sang, and partied - perfectly legal things. And I've never been in a situation where I've seen or known of others [using drugs]."
