<P> A poll conducted by Synovate for the newspaper Dagbladet showed that 43% of the Norwegian population believed giving Obama the prize was right, while 38% believed it was wrong . 19% had no opinion . The poll showed a sharp divide between younger and older people; of those over 60 years of age 58% were for and only 31% against it . Of those between 18 and 29 years of age, only 25% approved of the decision, while 42% disapproved . </P> <P> The award divided opinion among politicians . Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Obama for a "well - deserved prize". Siv Jensen, leader of the opposition Progress Party, said that while Obama had taken several good initiatives the committee should have waited to see their results . Erna Solberg, leader of the Conservative Party, also said that the prize came early and increased pressure on Obama to live up to the expectation . Torstein Dahle, the leader of the leftist party Red, called the award a scandal, citing the fact that Obama was the commander - in - chief of a country at war in Iraq and Afghanistan . </P> <P> The response from U.S. allies was generally positive; reactions around the world were mixed: </P> <P> Several Nobel Laureates have commented: Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus, (co-winner 2006 prize), said the committee's award was "an endorsement of (Obama) and the direction he is taking ." Archbishop Desmond Tutu said the award to Obama "anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all ." Mairead Corrigan, (co-winner 1976), expressed her disappointment, stating, "(g) iving this award to the leader of the most militarized country in the world, which has taken the human family against its will to war, will be rightly seen by many people around the world as a reward for his country's aggression and domination ." Lech Wałęsa, (1983) cofounder of the Solidarity trade union, and former president of Poland said the award was premature . "He has not yet made a real input ." The 14th Dalai Lama congratulated Obama . </P>

Who was the first president to be awarded the nobel peace prize