Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering fight for democratic rights and peaceful transition in her country.
Announcing the award in Oslo on Friday, Nobel Committee chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes praised Machado, 58, as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times,” highlighting her “tireless efforts to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Machado has spent years campaigning against President Nicolás Maduro’s government, which much of the international community considers illegitimate. Despite repeated threats to her life and being forced into hiding for much of the past year, she has remained in Venezuela, continuing to push for reform.
The Nobel Committee described her as a unifying force within the country’s fractured opposition, saying she had inspired millions by choosing to remain in Venezuela despite the risks.
Machado was barred from running in last year’s presidential election, which saw Maduro secure a third term in a vote widely dismissed as neither free nor fair. Still, she managed to unite opposition groups behind Edmundo González, the candidate who replaced her on the ballot, and continued to campaign from hiding after the election results were announced.
In a video statement, Machado expressed surprise and humility over the award, saying it was “the achievement of an entire society.” González also celebrated the announcement, describing it as a recognition of “a woman and a people fighting for freedom and democracy.”
The committee warned that democracy is “in retreat” globally, citing Venezuela as one of several nations where the rule of law and freedom of expression are under threat.
There were 338 candidates nominated for this year’s prize, though their names will remain secret for 50 years, in line with Nobel tradition.
Among those who missed out was U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly sought the award, claiming credit for ending several global conflicts. Following the announcement, the White House accused the committee of “placing politics over peace.”
Frydnes said the decision was based solely on Alfred Nobel’s original principles, noting that Machado’s courage and persistence “embody hope for the future.”
Machado’s recognition marks a defining moment in Venezuela’s pro-democracy struggle and places renewed global attention on the country’s ongoing fight for freedom and political change.
