There are calls to abolish the monarchy in Norway and ensure it

Recent royal scandals have sparked calls for a referendum to decide whether Norway should abolish the monarchy and become a republic instead. At the same time, a majority in parliament wants the country’s young princess to be able to step into the role of regent if needed, while a police investigation into her half-brother’s violence and drug use escalates.

It’s still a difficult year for the usually popular royal family. King Harald V, 87, is seriously ill but does not want to abdicate, viewing his position as a lifelong obligation. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, is taking over more and more of his father’s royal duties, but he has no support himself.

Haakon’s daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is now 20 years old and is of age to become regent and thus take on more royal responsibilities. However, the Norwegian constitution allows only one heir to the throne to be regent. If both the king and the crown prince are ill or otherwise indisposed, a plenum of government will take over.

Perhaps this will change soon. For the first time since 1905, there are two adult heirs to the throne in Norway. MPs from six different political parties propose changing the constitution so that the second heir to the throne (Ingrid Alexandra) also becomes regent.

The idea is basically two regents are better than one. “It would give Ingrid Alexandra the opportunity to gain more experience and knowledge about her future role,” royal commentator Trond Norén Isaksen told state broadcaster NRK on Monday, “and will ease the pressure on the crown prince” if the elderly King Harald falls ill again. It would also make it easier for Haakon to travel abroad.

Ingrid Alexandra has just extended her current military service, but would be ready to take on the duties of regent. “I am absolutely convinced that Ingrid Alexandra is ready to take on these tasks if necessary,” Isaksen said. “The expectation is to go on to higher education, but most students also have jobs on the side.”

Anti-Royal Red Party, meanwhile, it wants the complete abolition of the monarchy and has proposed this in its party program for the upcoming parliamentary term that begins this week. NRK reported that the Reds believe a referendum should be held after recent polls showed a sharp decline in public support for the monarchy following a series of scandals over the past few months. Haakon’s sister, Princess Martha Louise, has been accused of “selling” her recent wedding to an American shaman for commercial purposes and remains at odds with her brother and father over the alleged commercial use of her title.

The police also expanded their investigation drug use and brutal attacks by the son of Haakon’s wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, from a previous relationship. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that police seized the phone of 27-year-old Marius Borg Høiby when he was arrested again in September and were seeking further information. The aim is to find more evidence of Høiby’s alleged violence and threats against not only his last girlfriend, but also two more and a fourth person.

“We treat the investigation in this case as a priority,” said prosecutor Andreas Kruszewski Aftenposten on Monday. Høiby has still not formally pleaded innocent or guilty in the mounting accusations, but has publicly apologized for attacking his last girlfriend and trashing her Oslo apartment on August 4 while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

Aftenposten he also reported that Høiby was slow replace the things he destroyed or pay other compensation to a young woman who was renting an apartment and was at risk of losing her deposit of three months’ rent to cover the cost of repairs. Høiby promised to cover the costs, but until last week he had not kept his word.

His victim’s lawyer, Mette Yvonne Larsen, confirmed that she eventually contacted the Royal Palace in an attempt to get him to pay. The next day she finally heard the voice of Høiby’s defense attorney, Øyvind Bratlien, who later said Aftenposten that neither he nor Høiby had received documentation regarding the compensation claims. Now they did it and promised to pay again.

King Harald, Queen Sonja, palace officials and Crown Princess Mette-Marit continue to refuse to comment on the allegations against her son.

NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund