By Gwladys Fouche
OSLO, Oct 6 (Reuters) – The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced this Friday. Below is an overview of how the award operates.
Who Is Eligible for Nomination?
A total of 287 candidates have been put forward this year—208 individuals and 79 organisations. The identities remain confidential for 50 years, stored in a vault beneath the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. Nevertheless, the thousands of nominators worldwide may disclose their choices if they wish.
Is Former U.S. President Donald Trump Among the Nominees, and Could He Win?
Leaders from Cambodia, Israel and Pakistan have claimed they nominated Trump, although there is no way to verify these statements. Analysts suggest that, even if nominated, his prospects of winning are slim.
Who Are the Leading Contenders This Year?
Potential laureates include Pope Leo, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Other possibilities are the Emergency Response Rooms—a Sudanese network of community groups delivering aid amid civil war—and Save the Children, for its work protecting children in conflict zones. More speculative candidates have been mentioned, such as the International Space Station, exemplifying cooperation among the United States, Russia and Europe despite geopolitical tensions.
Who Makes the Decision?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, comprising five members appointed by the Norwegian parliament, selects the winner. Committee members are frequently, though not exclusively, retired politicians. The current chair heads the Norwegian branch of PEN International, which advocates freedom of expression; another member is an academic. Their appointments mirror the political composition of Norway’s legislature.
Who Can Receive the Prize?
In short, anyone whose achievements align with Alfred Nobel’s 1895 testament qualifies: the award should go to the person “who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses.” A more nuanced view, offered by Kristian Berg Harpviken, the committee’s secretary who prepares the material but does not vote, is that the prize must be evaluated against contemporary developments. He told Reuters last year, “They assess global events, identify prevailing trends, pinpoint chief concerns, and look for the most promising peace‑building processes.” He added that such processes may range from concrete peace negotiations to emerging international agreements.
Who May Submit Nominations?
Eligible nominators include government officials and parliamentarians, sitting heads of state, university rectors, professors of history, social sciences, law and philosophy, as well as former Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Nominations closed on January 31; committee members may also add their own candidates up to their first meeting in February.
How Does the Committee Reach a Verdict?
After reviewing all nominations, the committee creates a shortlist. Each candidate is then examined by permanent advisers and subject‑matter experts. The panel convenes roughly once a month to discuss nominations, with a final decision typically reached in August or September, according to Harpviken. The committee strives for consensus; failing that, a majority vote determines the outcome. The last resignation in protest occurred in 1994, when a committee member stepped down after Yasser Arafat shared the prize with Israeli leaders Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin.
What Does the Laureate Receive?
The winner is awarded a gold medal, a diploma, 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million), and instantaneous worldwide attention.
When Are the Announcement and Ceremony Held?
The prize will be announced on October 9 at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, a proclamation made by the committee’s chair. The award ceremony follows on December 10 at Oslo City Hall, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
($1 = 9.8283 Swedish crowns)
(Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; Editing by Alex Richardson and Gareth Jones)
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