Greta Thunberg a Top Contender to Win Nobel Peace Prize

Many were skeptical when Greta, as she is often referred to, became the bookmaker's favorite to win last year's Nobel Peace Prize, especially with regards to her age, but her second nomination could strengthen her chances.

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"Greta is renominated, which was the case for Malala. I said Malala was young when she was nominated the first time and I said Greta was young the first time she was nominated," Sveen said. Yousafzai won in 2014.

Not Trump

Other known candidates included the "people of Hong Kong", NATO, Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden and jailed Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul.

Other possible choices are Reporters Without Borders, Angela Merkel and the World Health Organization, experts said, though it is unclear whether they are nominated.

Nominations are secret for 50 years but those who nominate can choose to publicize their choices.

Thousands of people are eligible to nominate, including members of parliaments and governments, university professors, and past laureates.

It is not known whether Donald Trump is nominated for this year's prize, though he is up for next year's award after a Norwegian lawmaker named the US President for helping broker a deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

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He is unlikely to win, Sveen and Smith agreed, not least for his dismantling of the international treaties to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons, a cause dear to Nobel committees.

"He is divisive and seems to not take a clear stance against the violence the right-wing perpetrates in the US," said Smith.

"And that is just the first list." 

(Writer: Gwladys Fouche | Editor: Angus MacSwan)

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nobel-prize-peace/a-nobel-for-thunberg-in-the-age-of-climate-change-and-virus-it-is-possible-idUSKBN2680ZT?il=0