US President Trump's "ghost" haunts the Nobel Peace Prize

Although he hasn't lobbied as openly for the Nobel in recent weeks as he once did, Trump remains on everyone's mind. Whoever the committee chooses, this decision will most likely be interpreted as a direct or indirect criticism of the US President.

Haakon Gjerlow, President of Oslo Peace Research Institute (PRIO), who said that Trump is "the ghost in the room", said that considering the possible reactions from the White House, the Nobel Committee should ask, "Does awarding this award have the potential to cause more harm than good?" He states that he should ask himself:

"There is always lobbying, there may even be attempts to put pressure on the committee. So we are used to these," said Committee Secretary Kristian Berg Harpviken, adding, "This is not an issue we do not talk about. Of course, we should discuss it, but this does not mean that it will affect the internal discussions and decisions." he said.

The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday, October 9, in Oslo, Norway.

A total of 287 people and organizations were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year, but the names of the candidates have been kept secret for 50 years.

NOBEL PRIZES ARE GIVEN IN 5 BRANCHES

The awards given by the Nobel Foundation, which was established on June 9, 1900, following the will of the Swedish Alfred Nobel, are given to the individuals or organizations deemed to be the most successful in 5 branches: physics, chemistry, literature, peace and medicine by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, the Karolinska Institute and the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

In addition, the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded for the first time in 1969, when the Swedish Central Bank decided in 1968 to award an award in economics in memory of Alfred Nobel.

Nobel Prizes are delivered to their owners at a ceremony held every year on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.