2025 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded To Venezuela’s Opposition Leader María Corina Machado
Key Facts
- Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights” and peaceful resistance against President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime.
- The award was hailed worldwide as a symbol of solidarity with Venezuela’s struggle for freedom but also stirred tension, as U.S. President Donald Trump—who campaigned for the prize—was reportedly frustrated by the outcome.
- Analysts said the decision sends a clear message against dictatorship and human rights abuses in Latin America, while placing renewed pressure on Maduro to allow free elections and respect civil liberties.
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
OSLO/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Venezuela’s 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 Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Friday.
The Committee praised her as “a brave and committed champion of peace.”
Machado, born October 7, 1967, in Caracas, is 58 years old. She is a trained industrial engineer and co-founded Súmate, a civic organization dedicated to defending electoral transparency and citizen participation. In 2010, she was elected to Venezuela’s National Assembly with one of the highest vote totals in history but was later expelled in what international observers called a politically motivated move.
A vocal critic of what she views as the authoritarian Nicolás Maduro regime, Machado has faced repeated bans from holding office, harassment, and threats.
After winning the Venezuelan opposition’s 2023 primary by more than 90 percent, she was barred from running in national elections for 15 years. Forced underground, she continues to coordinate opposition activities from hiding.
MACHADO REACTS
In a brief message following the Nobel announcement, Machado said: “I am deeply moved and grateful. This recognition is for the Venezuelan people who do not give up.”
Supporters and human rights advocates worldwide hailed the decision as an important sign of international solidarity with Venezuela’s democratic movement.
They see the award as a symbol of hope for a nation gripped by economic collapse and authoritarian rule. Among those targeted are Christian leaders or congregations that speak out on human rights, press for justice, or criticize government policies. Some church leaders have been detained and jailed over public statements, Worthy News documented.
Yet the latest Peace Prize announcement was likely to upset U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who was nominated by several world leaders for his efforts to bring peace in the Middle East and other regions.
The 79-year-old president has openly expressed envy that four of his predecessors, including Barack Obama, received the Nobel Peace Prize.
NORWAY CONCERNED
Trump’s outspoken campaign for the award has caused concern in Norway about possible retaliation if he did not receive what many consider the world’s most prestigious honor.
Kirsti Bergstø, leader of Norway’s Socialist Left Party and its foreign policy spokesperson, noted:
“The Nobel Committee is an independent body, and the Norwegian government has no involvement in determining the prizes. But I’m not sure Trump knows that. We have to be prepared for anything from him.”
Her comments came as Norway tightened security around the committee after reports of heightened attention from some international groups linked to Trump supporters.
However, the Nobel Committee has not been without historical controversy. Yasser Arafat, the late chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 alongside Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East following the Oslo Accords.
DIVISIVE DECISION
The decision was divisive — critics cited Arafat’s violent past, while supporters saw it as recognition of a historic, if fragile, step toward reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize will be formally presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Machado is expected to attend if Venezuelan authorities allow her to travel.
Analysts say the award sends a strong message against authoritarian governance in Latin America and beyond, while placing new international pressure on President Nicolás Maduro to respect human rights and free elections.
Trump’s hopes for a Nobel Peace Prize could potentially still be fulfilled next year or later if he succeeds in brokering a historic peace deal in the Middle East and beyond.
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