Finnish PM defends work record after party controversy

Finland's prime minister yesterday gave a forceful defence of her work record and her right to a private life after criticism sparked by a video of the 36-year-old partying.

"I am human. And I too sometimes long for joy, light and fun amidst these dark clouds," Sanna Marin said as she fought to hold back tears at her Social Democratic Party's (SDP) event in Lahti city, north of Helsinki.

"It's private, it's joy, and it's life," she said. "But I haven't missed a single day of work."

Marin said the last week had been "quite difficult".