Venezuelan politician Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize 2025

Venezuelan Activist Maria Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The prestigious award recognizes her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela” and her struggle for a peaceful change from an authoritarian government to a democracy. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised the 58-year-old activist, describing her as “a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

A Symbol of Courage and Resistance

Machado has been a central and unifying figure in Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement for decades. She co-founded the civil society group Súmate more than 20 years ago to push for free and fair elections, famously stating that her choice was always “ballots over bullets.” In a country where the regime of President Nicolás Maduro systematically suppresses opposition through legal bans, arrests, and harassment, Machado has become an extraordinary example of civilian courage, having spent the last year forced into hiding to avoid arrest.

The Fight Against Maduro’s Regime

The award comes after a highly disputed presidential election in 2024. Although Machado was the initial opposition candidate, the Venezuelan courts—seen as loyal to the government—barred her from running. Instead, she threw her support behind another opposition figure, Edmundo González. Machado then led a massive effort to mobilize hundreds of thousands of volunteers to monitor polling stations, collect vote tallies, and expose what the opposition claimed was widespread electoral fraud. Though the opposition believed they won by a clear margin, the Maduro regime refused to accept the results and clung to power.

Prize Recognizes Global Democratic Struggle

In their statement, the Nobel Committee emphasized that democracy is a key foundation for lasting peace, noting that the situation in Venezuela reflects a worrying global trend where democracy is in retreat. They pointed out that authoritarians around the world are abusing the rule of law, silencing media, and imprisoning critics. By honoring Machado, the committee aimed to recognize and support courageous defenders of freedom who refuse to be silent in the face of repression.

Reactions and the Trump Campaign

Machado expressed shock and gratitude upon hearing the news, stating, “I have no words,” and insisted the prize was an award for the entire Venezuelan movement. The lead-up to the announcement had been dominated by public campaigning by U.S. President Donald Trump, who repeatedly suggested he deserved the prize. However, the committee chairman, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, clarified that their decision was based only on the work and the principles outlined by Alfred Nobel, choosing Machado for her unwavering commitment to a peaceful and democratic transition.