Stoltenberg Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has been nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, as reported by the Verdens Gang (VG) newspaper.

The nomination was put forth by Abid Raja, former Minister of Culture for Norway and the Deputy Chair of the Liberal Party.

Raja explained his choice by stating, "Over the past year, no one has contributed more to the cause of peace and democracy in Europe and around the world than Jens Stoltenberg," in an interview with VG.

The Nobel Peace Prize, by the will of Alfred Nobel, is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to fostering international cooperation, reducing military forces, and promoting peace initiatives.

Notably, this award is presented in Oslo, Norway, in contrast to Nobel's other awards, which are conferred in Stockholm.

The selection of laureates is entrusted to a committee of five individuals appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

Typically, committee members comprise retired Norwegian politicians and former party leaders.

In recent years, the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize have been interpreted broadly, leading to diverse selections that encompass politicians, human rights advocates, activists, and humanitarian organizations across various fields.

The nomination process remains open until January 31 each year, following which committee members retain the exclusive right to nominate candidates, typically during their initial meeting in February.

The complete list of nominees is kept confidential and only disclosed after 50 years from the award's date.

However, certain nominations occasionally surface in the media, leaked by individuals or organizations with nominating privileges.

These entities include former and current members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and its advisors, past Nobel Peace Prize laureates, national parliament members, and university professors specializing in history, philosophy, law, or theology.