Corruption Allegations Shadow Incoming Conservative Leader Ine Eriksen Søreide
Norwegian politics is reeling from accusations of corruption leveled against Mona Juul, a close friend of Ine Eriksen Søreide, who is poised to become the next leader of the Conservative Party. Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, have been charged with gross corruption and complicity, respectively, prompting scrutiny of Søreide’s past actions as foreign minister and raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The Charges and Søreide’s Initial Response
On Monday, September 2nd, 2026, Norwegian authorities charged Juul with gross corruption, with Rød-Larsen facing charges of complicity. The allegations center around the International Peace Institute (IPI), which received approximately NOK 130 million in public funding from Norwegian taxpayers during Rød-Larsen’s tenure as its leader, which ended in 2020. Søreide, who served as foreign minister from 2017 to 2021, acknowledged a potential lapse in oversight during a press conference on Monday afternoon.
“With what we know today, there is obviously a completely different picture emerging,” Søreide stated, adding that she is unsure whether a more thorough investigation at the time would have revealed financial improprieties or legal violations. She had previously declared herself ineligible to handle personnel matters involving Juul as a precautionary measure when she assumed the role of foreign minister in 2017, stating she had known Juul since before entering government in 2013.
The 2019 Notice and Epstein Connections
The current controversy stems from a notice received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2019. This notice detailed allegations that IPI facilitated short-term internships for young women from Eastern Europe and that photographs of these women were shared with Jeffrey Epstein. The timing of these allegations is particularly sensitive, coinciding with IPI’s receipt of substantial public funding. A disturbing image, reportedly showing Rød-Larsen displaying a photograph of a scantily clad woman while in Epstein’s Paris apartment, has resurfaced, further fueling the scandal.
Søreide addressed the 2019 notice, stating that she did not declare herself incompetent in matters involving Rød-Larsen, despite his close association with Epstein. She emphasized her concern that “all information must be on the table now” and expressed disappointment regarding the emerging details.
Questions of Oversight and Potential Complicity
The handling of the 2019 notice has come under intense scrutiny. Critics question why a more robust investigation was not launched, particularly given the gravity of the allegations and the significant public funds allocated to IPI. One legal expert, Jan Fridthjof Bernt, professor emeritus at UiB, commented to E24 that it was “unfortunate that she processed a notification that dealt with the spouse of a good friend,” regardless of whether Søreide was technically conflicted.
Søreide maintained that the matter was initially treated as a police issue and referred to the Attorney General in November 2019. She also asserted that she never discussed the 2019 notice with Juul. However, she conceded that she “cannot guarantee that Norwegian tax money has not gone to human trafficking of young girls,” underscoring the need for the ongoing review by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an external investigation.
Past Criticism of IPI Funding
This is not the first time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ funding of IPI has faced criticism. The National Audit Office previously issued a strong rebuke of the ministry’s grant allocation practices between 2007 and 2012, concluding that the ministry “controlled not how the International Peace Institute (IPI) spent the money.” The audit revealed a lack of follow-up on crucial documentation, including project plans, budgets, and financial reports.
The timing of this scandal is particularly challenging for Søreide, as she is scheduled to be elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party next weekend. The allegations surrounding Juul and Rød-Larsen have undoubtedly cast a shadow over her impending leadership, forcing her to confront difficult questions about her past decisions and her relationships with key figures. .
