(Nedan utdrag ur postningar av mig på utrikiska listor. Det lär hända mer i den
här akademisoppan... --AE)
It's described as the deepest crisis ever for the Swedish Academy, the body
deciding the Nobel Prize in Literature. A person close to the Academy, one
Jean-Claude Arnault, is accused of multiple and serious sexual harassments and
abuse by a number of women - also towards "members of the Academy, and wives
and daughters of members" according to a press statement by the Academy's
Constant Secretary Sara Danius. Arnault is a married to Academy member Katarina
Frostenson. And further: Arnault is also suspected to on several occasions have
leaked the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in advance.
The Academy, through Sara Danius (the Constant Secretary is their executive
officer), has engaged a law firm to investigate the events, and has cut
economical support and other commitments to Arnault. He runs a cultural
establishment which up to now has been supported economically by the Academy (a
place where the sexual harassments have happened, as well as in the flats the
Academy owns in Stockholm and Paris).
The crisis is said to be deeper than even the "Rushdie Affair" of 1989 (a
conflict about if the Academy should officially condemn the death threats
against Salman Rushdie). It also involves eg that earlier Constant Secretaries
have lobbied to award Arnault the Order of the North Star and a government
artist life salary, which has lead to demands that they should be sacked (you
can't resign from the Academy but you can be kicked out).
More:
http://www.turkeytelegraph.com/life-style/a-sexual-abuse-scandal-dot-the-swedish-academy-h14193.html
This story is huge over here and very complex - full of muddy personal
relations - and things happens every day.
The latest from today is that the Swedish King (Carl XVI Gustaf) has
requested a meeting with the Academy. While the King under the constitution
shall keep out of political businesses, this is a thing in which he can play a
role. It is a Royal academy, the King is "highest protector" of it, the Swedish
Academy was founded by his predecessor Gustav III in 1786, who personally wrote
the statutes, and the King is both presenter of the Nobel Prizes and guest of
honour at the public Academy meeting December 20th when new Academy members are
inducted.
I have BTW met the Constant Secretary Sara Danius, well, at least heard her
lecture on a local library. I have the impression that she's a firm lady, who
won't take any bullshit, and if anyone can do something about the Academy's
mess it is quite possibly her. It's my impression.
It is called "ständig sekreterare" in Swedish, "ständigt" = constant (or
something similar), because that person is elected with an open term of office.
He/she has the position without need to be re-elected, but can resign (which
usually happens after a number of years and a new one is elected). It's the key
position in the Academy, and Sara Danius is the first female Constant
Secretary. Her two predecessors, Horace Engdahl and Peter Englund, are both
getting a lot of flak in this affair, for being passive, naive, corrupted in
friendship with JC Arnault, sending dumb letters, etc,
I guess 100 reporters are right now digging through the Academy's trash
cans, turning every piece of paper, combing every archive to find out more...
It'll be interesting. And the Nobel Prize ceremonies are only three days away.
--Ahrvid
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