Nobel Literature Prize for 2018 in doubt after #MeToo crisis

The Swedish Academy, plunged into crisis over allegations of rape and sexual assault by the husband of one its members, may postpone the 2018 Nobel Literature Prize, Swedish Radio reported on Wednesday.

“We’re thinking about it. We’ll let you know soon,” explained Anders Olsson, the Academy’s interim permanent secretary.

According to Swedish Radio, several members of the Academy have suggested reserving this year’s prize, and awarding it alongside the 2019 prize next year.

“Given the situation the Academy currently finds itself in, and given the best interests of the prize, it might be best to postpone it for a year,” said Peter Englund.

Englund is one of five Academy members who have stepped down in recent weeks over the scandal, including permanent secretary Sara Danius.

But another member, Goran Malmqvist, rejected the notion, telling news agency TT it would go ahead as planned this year.

Technically, the Academy’s 18 members are appointed for life and cannot resign, but they can choose not to participate in its meetings and decisions.

Currently, a total of seven are no longer active members which poses a real headache: according to its statutes, 12 members are needed in order to vote in a new member.

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, who is the patron of the Academy founded in 1786, has agreed to change the statutes to allow members to resign and be replaced, thereby ensuring the institution’s survival.

The scandal centers on allegations by 18 women in November – in the wake of the #MeToo campaign – that they had been subject to sexual harassment and assault by JeanClaude Arnault, the French husband of Academy member and poet Katarina Frostenson.

Arnault denies the allegations.

The scandal has dragged the Academy’s reputation through the mud.

“This is devastating for the reputation of the Nobel prize,” Mattias Berg, who covers cultural affairs for SR radio, told AFP.