When leaders from the European Council gathered for a group photo in Brussels last week, it was hard to miss the class newbie. Standing front and center among the neat rows of middle-aged men was Finland's new prime minister -- 34-year-old Sanna Marin.
The young woman had a huge smile on her face. And why not, given her trailblazing new status as the world's youngest sitting prime minister.
The former transport minister shot to worldwide fame earlier this month after the leader of her Social Democratic Party stepped down -- and Marin stepped up, becoming the country's youngest serving prime minister.
She now heads Finland's governing coalition of five parties -- all of which have female leaders, and almost all under the age of 35.
It's a remarkable line-up, given the country's leaders have traditionally been older men.
Marin's youth and gender "make her stand out from her predecessors, that for the most part have been males in their 50s," said Timo Miettinen, researcher at Helsinki University's Department of Political and Economic Studies.
Finland was the first country in the world to elect women to parliament, a little over a century ago. In that time, there have been just two female prime ministers before Marin, each serving for no longer than a year.
Initially, many Finns were too embroiled in internal political strife (the previous prime minister resigned after nationwide industrial strikes) to make much of a fuss about Marin's record-setting age.
But when the international press started weighing in, they took notice, said Miettinen.
"People have been saying it's the best thing to happen to the international reputation of Finland," he said.
"There is a sense of pride -- at least among her supporters and people who support her coalition parties."
Source: CNN
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