By: Dr Andreja Valič Zver
Norway has been at the centre of my interest for many years. Not only because of family ties, which have been growing stronger in recent years. Not only in the academic sense, as my master’s thesis focused on the national formation of Slovenes and Norwegians in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. And not only because of the striking and surprising similarities that connect us despite the geographical distance. This is why I follow developments in Northern Europe with special interest and affection. The recent severe upheavals in Norway have not passed me by.
How could I possibly overlook a scandal of immense proportions involving the future queen Mette‑Marit and her shameful ties to Epstein, as well as the scandal surrounding her son and the multitude of accusations against him for violent behaviour and other criminal acts, including rape. Who would have thought that a woman who outwardly appears kind and compassionate would be hiding dark secrets of all sorts, and that she would even ask an American satanist, already under investigation at the time, for advice on how to raise her royal children?
Since the establishment of independent Norway in 1905, the Norwegian royal family has been beloved by the people for its normality, humility and approachability. Now the ground is shaking beneath their feet, and the big question is whether they will survive the turmoil caused by the crown prince’s marriage to an obviously unsuitable wife, and by his sister, who, after her former husband’s suicide, married a shaman who is now desperately trying to influence the royal family.
At the same time as Norway, a scandal of international proportions has shaken the foundations of the British monarchy. After the death of the steadfast Queen Elizabeth, things seem to be rapidly falling apart. King Charles, burdened by illness and his own baggage, is more or less hiding in his chambers, while Crown Prince William tries to navigate an increasingly stranded British ship. His uncle Andrew drilled a massive hole in it with his scandalous ties to Epstein, and continues to sink it further. High‑ranking British politicians have also bowed their heads in shame and resigned one after another, but who knows what else is hidden in the three million Epstein‑related documents expected to be released in the future.
And now, let us move from international waters to our own, Slovenian ones. So far, the infamous Epstein documents have revealed little about Slovenia. Only two names have been mentioned, a former president and a former prime minister. But still, do we Slovenians have our own Epstein? A predator of young girls and boys, a rapist, a blackmailer, the leader of a paedophile network, a satanist?
The basic story goes like this: once upon a time, in the middle of Ljubljana, on Tivolska Street, a venue called Fotopub allegedly emerged, where all sorts of sexual depravity and criminal acts took place. According to media reports, the conceptual and actual leaders were a well‑known Slovenian painter and a so‑called “artist”, whose so‑called madams recruited young and naïve girls in Ljubljana’s bars. The well‑known Carinthian psychologist M.M., who became famous in the “Carinthian boys” affair, wrote quite a lot about this and other filthy details on Facebook last week. One can hardly imagine he made it up, such depravity is difficult to invent even in the darkest dreams. The media also reported that one of the main Fotopub protagonists is strolling around and taking photos in one of the most luxurious Swiss winter resorts. O sancta simplicitas! (Oh, holy simplicity!)
While in Norway, the UK, the USA and other countries where Epstein’s dirty network operated, the police, prosecution and judiciary at least give the appearance of dealing with these crimes, the picture in Slovenia is far more blurred. It seems that the police and all other institutions that should react are showing lethargy, indecision and even fear. What cries out to the heavens is the thought of the suffering of young girls and boys who were instrumentalised by people who held economic and political power – yes, the elites! But not just any elites. These are elites who rose to the top not because of merit, not because of values, but because of primitive impulses they could not control. I fear that Slovenia is not immune to this rot. Time will bring answers.