Finnish Prime Minister apologized to Asian countries over racist scandal

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo issued official apologies to Asian countries in connection with a racist scandal caused by the circulation of offensive images on social media. The incident was triggered by a photograph published earlier this month showing Miss Finland titleholder Sara Dzafche posing with a friend, accompanied by the caption “Eating with a Chinese woman” and making a gesture perceived as humiliating toward Asians.

After the photo spread on social media and drew widespread public criticism, Sara Dzafche was stripped of the Miss Finland title. The incident generated resonance not only in society but also within Finland’s political circles. Additional attention was drawn by actions of members of the Finns Party, when two Finnish Members of Parliament and one Member of the European Parliament posted similar images, amplifying both international and domestic reactions.

In response, the Finnish prime minister issued a statement published through official channels of Finland’s embassies in China, Japan, and South Korea. The statement emphasized that such publications do not reflect the values of Finnish society, which are based on equality, respect, and inclusivity. The message was intended to ease diplomatic tensions and reaffirm the government’s official position.

Finland’s far-right Finns Party, whose representatives were involved in the scandal, announced disciplinary measures. In particular, two MPs received reprimands for publishing images that drew widespread negative assessments and were perceived as offensive toward Asian peoples.

The scandal became a subject of discussion in Finnish and international media and sparked debate about the boundaries of acceptable conduct for public figures and the responsibility of politicians for their actions on social media. The situation highlighted the sensitivity of issues related to racism and discrimination in an international context.

The Finnish government’s response is viewed as an effort to preserve the country’s reputation on the international stage and reaffirm its commitment to the principles of equality and respect for cultural diversity. Further steps by the authorities and political parties will be assessed in terms of their impact on domestic politics and international relations.