Nobel Peace Prize jury treads carefully after Trump campaign

Stockholm, Oct 2 — The Nobel Peace Prize committee is being cautious after Republican candidate Donald Trump campaigned vigorously for the honor last year, according to experts interviewed by AFP. The intense pressure put on the five-member committee last year grew even more delicate when Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented Trump with the Nobel gold medal, suggesting he deserved the accolade for President Nicolas Maduro's capture.

The committee, aware of Trump's ongoing pressure, is aiming for a less controversial laureate this year, with the announcement set for October 9. Acting director Haakon Gjerlow believes a joint prize featuring Save the Children and Ukrainian children's rights activist Mykola Kuleba could be a fitting choice, as it would appease Trump's wife Melania and align with his interests.

Other favored picks include the Emergency Response Rooms network, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the International Space Station. The other notable Nobel prize, literature, is also attracting attention. Swedish Academy, the institution responsible for selecting the laureate, might opt for a woman writer from Latin America, such as Samanta Schweblin or Jamaica Kincaid, to recognize the 'Latin American literary miracle' and address the academy's historical focus on male, Western authors.