‘We have work to do’ says Finland’s Sanna Marin, 34, as she pledges climate focus

This article is more than 9 months old

This article is more than 9 months old

Finland’s new prime minister, Sanna Marin, brushed aside the media furore over her appointment as the world’s youngest serving head of government, pledging a sharp focus on climate policies as she made her debut at an EU summit.

Marin, 34, took office on Tuesday after the Centre party withdrew support from the Social Democrat leader Antti Rinne, forcing him to resign as prime minister. All five leaders of the parties in Marin’s coalition are women, four of them under 35.

The Guardian view on Finland’s new PM: a different type of leadership | Editorial Read more

“I haven’t concentrated that much on the media coverage of the change of government or my prime ministership. I have concentrated on the fact that we have a lot of work to do,” Marin told reporters on Thursday as she arrived for two days of European Union summit talks in Brussels.

She has been congratulated by female political leaders around the world, including the European commission’s new president, Ursula von der Leyen, who last month became the first female leader of the EU executive, as well as Hillary Clinton.

“Interview requests keep pouring in from journalists,” Marin’s spokeswoman said.

Marin, who has spoken about growing up in a disadvantaged family, is a left-winger within her party and a strong defender of Finland’s generous welfare state.

A long-time fan of the alternative metal band Rage Against The Machine, she has said she “dreams of free daycare” for all to add to Finland’s public education system.

Marin shook hands and talked with EU leaders as they gathered for a summit at which they will lock horns over climate change, with eastern European states threatening to stall the bloc’s new push to become climate neutral by 2050.

“The new generations are expecting us to act and we have to fulfil the expectations of the people,” Marin said. “I’m worried about this climate issue. We have to do more, we have to do it faster.”