Norwegian Nobel Committee

The Norwegian Nobel Committee (Den norske Nobelkomité) awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year. Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian parliament. The Director of the Nobel Institute, Professor Geir Lundestad, serves as secretary to the committee.

Because of the potential political applications of the peace-prize the Committee is often criticized, sometimes for its perceived left-wing leanings and sometimes for its perceived right-wing leanings.

Some of the prizes may also have been received as a result of pure lobbying, the late Japanese prime minister Eisaku Sato, who shared the 1974 prize with Seán MacBride, may be the best example of this.

Current Members

• Ole Danbolt Mjøs (chairman) (born 1939), Professor dr. med. Member of the Committee since 2003. Chairman since 2003.

• Berge Furre (deputy chairman) (born 1937), professor dr. theol., former member of parliament and leader of the socialist party. Member of the Committee since 2003, Deputy Chairman since 2003.

• Sissel Marie Rønbeck (born 1950), Deputy Director, Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren), former member of parliament and Cabinet Minister. Member of the Committee since 1994.

• Inger-Marie Ytterhorn (born 1941), Senior political adviser to the Progress Party's parliamentary group, former member of parliament. Member of the Committee since 2000.

• Kaci Kullmann Five (born 1951), former chairman of the Conservative Party, member of parliament and Cabinet Minister for Trade, Shipping and European Affairs. Member of the Committee since 2003.

External links

• Norwegian Nobel Committee - official site