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OSLO/ CARACAS: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for her unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, and peaceful resistance against authoritarian rule in Venezuela. The announcement was made by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo on Friday, ending weeks of speculation over this year’s recipient.
Machado, 58, is one of Latin America’s most prominent voices for democratic reform and has long stood at the forefront of Venezuela’s opposition movement. A former member of the National Assembly (2011–2014), she is the founder of the civic group Súmate and leader of the liberal party Vente Venezuela.
In its citation, the Nobel Committee praised Machado for “her courageous and peaceful struggle to restore democratic institutions and defend fundamental freedoms in Venezuela despite threats, imprisonment, and political disqualification.”
Machado remains banned by the Venezuelan government from holding public office and from leaving the country. In a recorded message shared shortly after the announcement, she said, “This award is not mine alone — it belongs to every Venezuelan who continues to dream of freedom and refuses to surrender to tyranny.”
Her recognition comes at a pivotal time for Venezuela, where Nicolás Maduro continues to tighten his grip on power amid growing economic hardship and international isolation. Machado, widely viewed as the legitimate leader of the Venezuelan opposition, was prevented from contesting the 2024 presidential elections, despite winning the opposition primaries.
In recent years, she has drawn international attention for her steadfast opposition to the Maduro regime. In 2024, she went into hiding after publishing an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal titled “My Country Is Dying, but I Still Have Hope,” describing the dangers she and other activists faced.
Meanwhile, the decision to award Machado the Nobel Peace Prize came as a surprise to many observers, who had speculated that U.S. President Donald Trump might be in contention for his claimed role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire agreement earlier this year. The committee, however, did not acknowledge Trump in its announcement, focusing instead on grassroots movements and human rights defenders.
Political analysts say the choice of Machado sends a strong message in support of democracy movements facing repression worldwide. “This award underscores the global importance of peaceful political resistance,” said Lars Peterson, a senior fellow at the Oslo Peace Institute. “It reflects the committee’s belief that courage under dictatorship deserves more recognition than transactional diplomacy.”
Machado has previously been included in BBC’s 100 Women (2018) and TIME’s 100 Most Influential People (2025). Her Nobel win marks a significant moment for Venezuela’s pro-democracy forces, giving renewed visibility to their struggle on the world stage.
As celebrations broke out in parts of Caracas, supporters hailed the award as a moral victory. “María Corina is the voice of a silenced nation,” one activist said. “This prize gives hope that the world has not forgotten us.”
The Nobel Peace Prize will be formally presented in Oslo on December 10, 2025. Whether Machado will be allowed to attend the ceremony in person remains uncertain, as the Maduro government has yet to comment on the announcement.
