Estonia apologises after minister taunts Finnish PM as 'sales girl'
Estonia's Interior Minister Mart Helme of far-right EKRE Party speaks to media after the swearing-in of the incoming coalition government in Tallinn, Estonia
Estoniaapologised to Finland on MondayafterEstonia's interiorministermocked Finland's new primeminister-- the world's youngest-serving government leader -- as "a sales girl" and questioned her ability to run the Nordic country.
Mart Helme, 70,Estonian interiorministerand leader of the populist far-right party Ekre, on Sunday ridiculedFinnishPrimeMinisterSanna Marin, 34, and her government, in which four out of five coalition leaders are women under 35.
"Now we see how one sales girl has become a primeministerand how some other street activists and non-educated people have also joined the cabinet," Helme said on his party's radio talk show.
His comments prompted the opposition to call for his resignation, whileEstonian President Kersti Kaljulaid asked Finland's President Sauli Niinisto to pass on her apologies to Marin and her government.
Social Democrat Marin, who has spoken about growing up in a disadvantaged family, worked as a cashier before studying at university and embarking on a political career.
"I'm extremely proud of Finland. Here a poor family's child can educate themselves and achieve their goals in life. A cashier can become even a primeminister," Marin wrote on Twitter.
Helme, a formerEstonian ambassador to Russia, is known for outspoken statements that regularly embarrass PrimeMinisterJuri Ratas and his Centre Party, Ekre's coalition partner.
Ekre was accepted for the first time into a government coalition in April,afterRatas lost parliamentary elections but clinched a deal with Ekre to stay in power.
Estonian opposition leader Kaja Kallas said on Monday the opposition would organise a no-confidence vote in parliament if Helme does not resignafterhis comments about Finland's new leaders. Previous such attempts have failed.
"The interiorministerhas offended theFinnishgovernment and personally attacked the newly-appointedFinnishprimeminister," she said in a statement.