Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist, Maria Corina Machado, has been named the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee described her as a “unifying force” in a country that has slid into authoritarianism.
Announcing the award in Oslo, Committee Chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes praised Machado, 58, for her “relentless fight for democratic freedoms in Venezuela and her efforts to secure a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
In a video shared by her team, Machado, who has spent the past year in hiding, reacted with disbelief, saying: “I am in shock.”
The Nobel jury highlighted her as “one of the most remarkable examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times,” noting that her decision to remain in Venezuela despite constant threats has inspired millions.
While speculation swirls online that she may be taking refuge in the U.S. embassy, Machado continues to be a rallying point for Venezuela’s opposition. Fellow opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia welcomed the award, calling it “a fitting tribute to the struggle of a woman and her people for democracy and freedom.”
Frydnes condemned Venezuela’s transformation from a relatively stable democracy into what he described as a “harsh authoritarian regime plagued by humanitarian and economic collapse.” He pointed out that the opposition has faced systematic repression through manipulated elections, politically motivated prosecutions, and mass imprisonments.
Machado, he added, has played a central role in uniting an opposition that was once fragmented.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has openly lobbied for the Peace Prize since returning to office in January, was once again overlooked. Trump has repeatedly claimed he “deserves” the award for resolving conflicts, though experts argue his record falls short of Nobel standards. Frydnes stressed that the committee does not bow to lobbying or media campaigns, reaffirming that decisions are based solely on the vision outlined by Alfred Nobel in 1895.
The Nobel Peace Prize includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of $1.2 million. Machado will formally receive the honor at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death.
