By Gloria Nosa
Venezuelan opposition leader and democracy activist Maria Corina Machado has been named the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday, October 10, in Oslo.
Machado, 58, was honored for what the jury described as her “tireless efforts to defend democratic rights for Venezuelans and her courage in seeking a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” Despite living in hiding for the past year and facing constant threats, she has remained in Venezuela — a decision the committee called “an inspiration to millions.”
Speaking in a video released by her team, the visibly emotional opposition figure said, “I am in shock.”
Recognition of Courage and Struggle
The Nobel jury praised Machado as one of Latin America’s most remarkable symbols of civilian bravery in recent decades. Her leadership has been central in uniting a previously divided opposition against the government of President Nicolás Maduro, which has been widely criticized for corruption, authoritarianism, and presiding over a humanitarian collapse.
Her longtime ally, Edmundo González Urrutia — the opposition’s substitute presidential candidate in Venezuela’s 2024 elections after Maduro blocked Machado’s candidacy — called the prize “a well-deserved recognition of a woman’s struggle and the resilience of an entire nation.”
From Grassroots Activist to Global Icon
Born in Caracas and trained as an engineer, Machado entered politics in 2002 as co-founder of Súmate, an organization that pushed for a referendum to challenge then-President Hugo Chávez. She quickly became a target of the regime, facing treason accusations and death threats, which forced her to send her three children abroad for safety.
Over the years, her rallies — where she often appears in her trademark white clothing — have drawn rock-star-like crowds of Venezuelans eager to see her, hand her notes, or present tokens of support.
The Nobel Prize adds to a growing list of international honors she has received, including the European Union’s Sakharov Prize and the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize.
Trump’s Disappointment
The announcement was also notable for who did not win. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, once again missed out. Since beginning his second term in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly argued that he “deserves the Nobel” for his role in conflict negotiations.
But Nobel observers dismissed his chances, pointing to his “America First” policies as being at odds with the spirit of Alfred Nobel’s will. Committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes emphasized that lobbying does not influence their decisions, saying, “We base our judgment solely on achievements, not campaigns.”
Award Ceremony in Oslo
The prize includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary award of $1.2 million. Machado will formally receive the honor at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, 2025, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
