The Nobel Foundation makes a U-turn after the storm of criticism – Russia’s ambassador is now being carried from the award ceremony in the Konserthuset in Stockholm.
The PR expert is stunned by their original decision and handling of the criticism.
– I don’t think they thought at all. It is a global self-goal and a gigantic mistake, says Paul Ronge.
It was on Thursday evening that it became known that the Nobel Foundation intended to go back to previous practice and invite all ambassadors, including those of Iran, Russia and Belarus, to the award ceremony. But just a day after the Nobel Foundation’s board defended the decision to invite the ambassadors from Russia, Iran and Belarus, it is now completely reversed.
PR expert and media consultant Paul Ronge calls the original decision “a giant mistake”.
– I wonder if they have any PR people at all? I don’t understand how they didn’t realize this was going to happen? It is a global scandal and affects both in Sweden and abroad. This is not over yet and they are taking it too lightly, he says in Efter fem.
“Are they big stophiles?”
The Nobel Foundation’s decision to invite the three countries’ ambassadors was met with massive criticism.
– It’s like they don’t understand. Everyone distances themselves and so the Nobel Foundation does something like this. It is unimaginable. Are they stolid stophiles or what kind of reality do they live in? says Ronge, adding that he gets the feeling that management still thinks they’re right, but turned around after the criticism became too great.
According to Vidar Helgesen, CEO of the Nobel Foundation, the board fully agreed that all former ambassadors should be invited, as well as to the ceremony in Oslo.
– We have taken to heart the reactions that completely overshadowed what is our basis for the decision. That is why we choose to repeat last year’s exception from the practice we have, says the foundation’s CEO Vidar Helgesen to TT.
Ukraine’s ambassador and several party leaders chose to boycott Nobel. On Saturday morning, the court also announced that King Carl Gustaf had not decided whether he would participate or not.