Does Snowden Deserve Nobel Peace Prize? One Country Seems To Think So

Norway politicians think Edward Snowden, infamous NSA leaker, is on par with Nelson Mandela and Theodore Roosevelt -- an ideal recipient for the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to Bloomberg, Snowden was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian politicians, including a former government minister, for contributing to transparency and global stability by exposing a U.S. surveillance program.

Edward Snowden has impressed the Norwegians; at least two of their politicians want to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, according to a nomination letter obtained by Bloomberg, (Credit: Getty Images).

This info graphic from the Nobel Prize Web site explains the timeline for nomination, vetting and selection of a Nobel Laureate. (Credit: NobelPrize.org)

“The public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden’s whistleblowing have contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order,” Norwegian parliamentarians Snorre Valen and Baard Vegar Solhjell said in the nomination letter obtained by Bloomberg.

Valen and Solhjell, who - according to Bloomberg - represent the Socialist Left Party in the Norwegian parliament, also said that they “don’t necessarily condone or support all of his disclosures.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is responsible for selecting the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, after qualified nominators have submitted their candidates. According to the Nobel Prize Web site, nearly anyone can be nominated, so long as a qualified person has submitted the nomination.

"The candidates eligible for the Nobel Peace Prize are those persons or organizations nominated by qualified individuals... a nomination for yourself will not be taken into consideration," the site explains.

Former Guardian reporter Glenn Greenwald, who broke scores of Snowden stories, noted the potential for awkwardness:

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/428534561878732800"]

The Norwegian Nobel Committee could ignore the Snowden submisstion altogether - they are responsible vetting eligible candidates and ultimately chose the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates - otherwise known as the finalists in the process.

That committee is composed of five members appointed by the Norwegian parliament and the final Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held in Oslo, Norway, each year.

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(H/T: Bloomberg)

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