Finnish PM apologizes for lawmakers' remarks offensive to Asians

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Wednesday issued a public apology for offensive remarks made by individual members of parliament on social media, saying the comments ran counter to Finland's values of equality and inclusion.

In a statement posted by Finland's embassies in China, the Republic of Korea and Japan in three languages, Orpo said he was deeply sorry for the remarks. The statement did not specify the target of the apology.

"Our message in Finland and to all our friends abroad is that the government takes racism seriously and is committed to combatting the issue," he said.

The apology follows a racism controversy sparked after Sarah Dzafce, the 2025 Miss Finland winner, was accused of deliberately mocking and stereotyping Asians, prompting the Miss Finland organization to strip her of the title. Two members of Finland's parliament and one European Parliament member, all from the far-right Finns Party, later posted similar images on social media.

The Finns Party is part of a four-party coalition led by Orpo's pro-business National Coalition Party.

Orpo said leaders of parliamentary groups from the governing parties had discussed the conduct of the lawmakers involved and jointly condemned the behavior as insulting and inappropriate.

(Cover: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo arrives to attend the EU Eastern Flank Summit in Helsinki, Finland, on December 16, 2025. /VCG)