MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. The release of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein dossier — pertaining to the American financier accused of pedophilia — promises to deliver a substantial blow to the reputation of European monarchies, particularly Norway and Sweden, according to political analysts speaking to TASS.
"For European monarchies, the publication of these files will inflict a serious blow to their public image. Norway and Sweden are especially vulnerable given the frequent references to their royal representatives," explained Nikolay Gaponenko, PhD in Economics and Associate Professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA).
This scandal could also trigger a rise in republican sentiments within these nations, further diminishing the political influence and public activity of royal families. "While the Danish king and the British royal family, notably through Prince Andrew, will also face scrutiny, the impact is expected to be less severe, given their recent efforts to distance themselves from Epstein," Gaponenko added.
Gaponenko predicts that the scandal will deepen political polarization in the United States. Parties are likely to exploit the documents, with Democrats targeting President Donald Trump and the Republican establishment, and Republicans focusing on former President Bill Clinton and the so-called "deep state."
"This will exacerbate the ongoing crisis of trust in government institutions, including the FBI and Department of Justice, which will be accused of cover-ups," he said. "Despite Trump's attempts to control the narrative, his documented ties to Epstein will leave him vulnerable, and resistance to full disclosure may be seen as an effort to hide damaging information."
Furthermore, the scandal could accelerate efforts to scrutinize and potentially strip implicated public figures of their status and positions, even absent formal legal verdicts. "This could herald a new era of 'cancel culture' at the elite level, fundamentally altering the rules of engagement for the global power structure," Gaponenko concluded.
Addressing Europe's historical background, Ilya Grashchenkov, director of the Center for Regional Policy Development, emphasized that the current scandal echoes long-standing conflicts between old aristocratic elites and emerging nouveaux riches.
"Historically, Europe’s power struggles pitted the venerable, almost mythical families — descendants of the Merovingians and other ancient dynasties — against self-made elites from more humble origins," Grashchenkov explained. "Today, we are witnessing a shift as the old bloodlines are increasingly challenged and displaced by new economic elites, and this scandal may be exploited to weaken the legitimacy of traditional royal families."