Teenager in Finland becomes PM for a day

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin faced a quieter day than usual yesterday after handing power to a 16-year-old as part of a campaign to promote girls’ rights.

Aava Murto, from Vaasky in southern Finland, said she was having an “exciting day” as she faced media on the steps of parliament after meeting with the chancellor of justice.

Murto added that she had “learnt some new things about legislation.”

In the afternoon, the student who actively campaigns on climate and human rights issues was to speak with MPs and the minister for development and foreign trade.

The swap is part of a global “Girls Takeover” campaign by children’s rights charity Plan International, which aims to raise awareness of girls’ digital skills and opportunities in technological industries and highlight the problem of online harassment against women.

The global campaign coincides with the UN’s International Day of the Girl Child on Sunday, and will also allow girls take on the jobs of ministers in Kenya, Peru, Sudan and Vietnam.

Finnish premier Marin, 34, became the world’s youngest head of government when she took office in December, leading a coalition of five centre-left parties who were all led by women.

Asked if she would be interested in doing the job full-time in a few years, Murto told AFP: “It’s not up to me to decide that, but possibly, yeah!”