While the winners of this year's Nobel Peace Prize arrived in Oslo Sunday, several politicians participated in a torchlight demonstration against what they call an unworthy winner.
The three presidents of the European Union, Herman van Rompuy, José Manuel Barroso and Martin Schulz arrived in Oslo Sunday afternoon. The official program started with a press conference at the Nobel Institute in Oslo, where they also met the Nobel committee and signed the Nobel protocol.
Meanwhile, as the Nobel winners were congratulated by the committee, a torchlight demonstration against this year's award winner took place in the streets of Oslo.
However, the parade drew far fewer participants than had been anticipated by the arrangement committee.
Minister of Children and Equality Inga Marte Thorkildsen was one of several politicians who participated in the demonstration, called "EU 2012: No worthy winner."
Thorkildsen argued that there should be room to show solidarity with the people in Europe who are suffering during the financial crisis. She opposes what she calls non-socialist and conservative political leadership by the EU.
The actual award ceremony is in Oslo's city hall at 1 p.m. today, Monday, followed by an official Peace Prize banquet at Grand Hotel at 7 p.m.
The traditional torchlight parade that celebrates the Nobel Prize winners also takes place this afternoon, and the winners will appear on the balcony outside Grand Hotel on Karl Johan street in Oslo.
(NRK)
Julie Ryland
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