Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist María Coria Machado has been honored with the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for her unwavering commitment to democratic rights and her courageous stand against authoritarian rule in Venezuela. The Nobel Committee lauded Machado as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times,” highlighting her relentless efforts to foster a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. Machado, 58, has faced severe threats to her life and has been forced into hiding for much of the past year, yet she remains a unifying figure in Venezuela’s deeply divided political opposition. Her work has been instrumental in addressing the humanitarian and economic crises plaguing the nation under President Nicolás Maduro’s 12-year rule, widely regarded as illegitimate by the international community. Despite being barred from running in the 2024 presidential election, Machado successfully rallied support for Edmundo González, the opposition candidate who reportedly won by a landslide, though the government-controlled National Electoral Council declared Maduro the victor. In a video message, Machado expressed humility, stating that the award was “the achievement of a whole society.” González praised the recognition as “well-deserved” for Machado and the Venezuelan people’s long struggle for freedom. Nobel Committee chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes criticized Venezuela’s leadership and warned of global democratic decline, emphasizing the abuse of power, suppression of free media, and the rise of authoritarianism. Frydnes expressed hope that Machado could attend the December award ceremony in Oslo, despite security concerns. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize saw 338 nominees, with U.S. President Donald Trump among those who missed out, despite his public campaign for the award. Frydnes affirmed that the committee’s decision was based solely on the criteria set by Alfred Nobel, with Machado embodying “hope for the future.”
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
