María Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for Democratic Struggle in Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her persistent fight to restore democracy and human rights in her country. The Norwegian Nobel Committee made the announcement at the Nobel Institute in Oslo on Friday, recognizing Machado for what it described as her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”.

Machado, a longtime critic of President Nicolás Maduro’s government, has been one of the most prominent voices of resistance in Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement. Her political career spans decades of activism, marked by repeated attempts to challenge the socialist administration and push for electoral reforms.

She rose to prominence after winning the Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary in 2023, positioning herself as the leading challenger to Maduro. However, the government barred her from contesting the 2024 presidential election, citing administrative disqualifications. In response, Machado backed Edmundo González Urrutia as the opposition’s candidate, a move that unified much of the anti-government coalition.

The 2024 election, which saw Maduro declared the winner with 51 percent of the vote, was widely condemned by international observers and the opposition, who alleged widespread fraud. Demonstrations erupted across Venezuela, leading to arrests, intimidation, and reports of violence against protesters and opposition figures.

Despite the threats, Machado chose to remain in Venezuela. The Nobel Committee praised her decision to stay and continue her advocacy “in the face of serious personal danger,” noting that her courage had inspired millions of Venezuelans yearning for political freedom.

At 58, Machado becomes one of the few Latin American women to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Her selection is being seen as a symbolic rebuke of authoritarianism and a show of solidarity with democratic movements across the globe.

Reactions poured in from across the world following the announcement. Supporters in Venezuela hailed the recognition as a moral victory for the opposition, while leaders from Latin America and Europe described the award as a reaffirmation of global support for the country’s democratic transition.

The Nobel Peace Prize, considered one of the world’s most prestigious honors, will be formally presented to Machado at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10.