Courageous Venezuelan Activist María Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
Published Date: 11th Oct, 2025
OSLO, NORWAY – The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."
The announcement, made Friday in Oslo, recognized Machado as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times," highlighting her decades-long defiance of the authoritarian regime of Nicolás Maduro.
A Prize for Democracy and Courage
The Committee praised Machado's steadfast commitment to non-violent resistance, emphasizing that she has successfully served as a "key, unifying figure" for a previously fractured political opposition.
Despite enduring political disqualification, threats, and a necessity to live in hiding, Machado has refused to leave Venezuela, a choice the Committee noted has inspired millions. Her efforts were described as embodying the idea that "the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace."
The award comes at a critical time for Venezuela, which is grappling with a severe economic and humanitarian crisis that has forced nearly 8 million citizens to flee the country. Machado, a former member of the National Assembly, has championed free elections, human rights, and liberal economic reforms to rebuild the nation.
High-Profile Snub and Controversy
The 2025 Peace Prize garnered unusual global attention due to intense speculation surrounding one of its other high-profile nominees: US President Donald Trump.
Despite repeatedly and publicly asserting his entitlement to the award—citing his administration’s role in brokering various regional ceasefires, including a recent one in the Gaza Strip—President Trump was bypassed.
Nobel experts had widely discounted the former president’s chances, noting that the Committee prioritizes sustained work for international fraternity and democracy over last-minute diplomatic maneuvers or political lobbying. Trump’s "America First" policies, including withdrawals from the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization, are seen as running contrary to the core tenets of the award as laid out in Alfred Nobel’s will.
Upon the announcement, a White House statement suggested the Nobel Committee had chosen "politics over peace," while Machado, in her reaction, acknowledged President Trump for his "decisive support of our cause."
María Corina Machado will receive a diploma, a gold medal, and a cash prize of 11 million Swedish Kronor (approximately $1.17 million) at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10.
Date: 11th Oct, 2025
