Maria Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for Defending Democracy in Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering efforts to promote democracy and resist authoritarian rule in Venezuela.

Announcing the award in Oslo, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, described Machado as a “key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided—an opposition that found common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government.”

Machado, a former presidential candidate, has long stood as a prominent voice against the regime of President Nicolás Maduro. Despite facing arrests, political persecution, and disqualification from contesting elections, she has continued to inspire millions of Venezuelans with her resilience and courage.

“In the past year, Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country—a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist, Frydnes said.

Leading up to the announcement, there was widespread speculation that the prize might go to U.S. President Donald Trump, following his high-profile efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza earlier this week. The discussions were fuelled in part by Trump’s own public remarks, suggesting he might be under consideration for the honour. However, the Nobel Committee ultimately selected Machado, citing her “longstanding and deeply personal commitment to democratic freedom under one of the world’s most repressive regimes.”

For decades, Machado has defied the Venezuelan government, calling for transparency, free elections, and the restoration of civil liberties. She was disqualified from running in the last presidential election, leading Edmundo González, a political newcomer, to represent the opposition in her place.

The election was marred by widespread repression, arrests, and human rights violations. The National Electoral Council, dominated by Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence suggesting electoral fraud. The disputed outcome sparked protests across Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people and leading to the severing of diplomatic ties with several countries, including Argentina.

Following the government’s crackdown, Machado went into hiding and has not been seen in public since January. A Venezuelan court later issued an arrest warrant for González, who has since fled to Spain, where he was granted asylum.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize highlights global recognition of Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights. The Peace Prize is the only Nobel award presented in Oslo, Norway, while the others are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.

Last year’s prize went to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation of atomic bombing survivors dedicated to maintaining a global taboo against the use of nuclear weapons.