Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by far-right Estonian lawmaker
Tallinn, Estonia – Former President Donald Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a right-wing populist lawmaker from Estonia.
Jaak Madison, a member of the Estonian People's Conservative Party as well as the European Parliament, explained on Monday that Trump was the first president in 30 years not to start a war while in office.
"Also, under his leadership, there have been several peace agreements in the Middle East, contributing to peace and stability in the region," Madison wrote in a post on Facebook.
The 29-year-old politician has caused controversy in the past by praising calling for a "final solution" for refugees seeking asylum in Europe, a phrase historically connected to the Holocaust.
It's not the first time Trump (74) has been nominated for the prestigious award. A far-right member of the Norwegian Parliament twice put Trump's name forward, also citing the former president's Middle East policies.
Also nominated for the prize was Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the BNS news agency reported, citing sources.
The nomination is said to have come from Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, though a spokesperson refused to comment on the report.
Proposals for this year's Nobel Peace Prize were accepted until the end of January.
Nominations may only be made by certain individuals, including members of parliament, heads of state, and previous prize winners.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute does not reveal the candidates, as a matter of principle. The winner will be announced in October.
The prize, first awarded in 1901, was endowed by the Swedish inventor of dynamite, Alfred Nobel.
The World Food Organization (WFP), the United Nations' food aid agency, was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its "efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict."
Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO / UPI Photo, IMAGO / Scanpix