Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, honoring her steadfast fight for democracy in one of the world’s most repressive

political climates.

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

Frydnes praised her courage, noting that Machado has spent much of the past year in hiding due to threats against her life. “Despite the danger, she has remained in Venezuela,” he said. “When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize the defenders of freedom who choose to stay and resist.”

A symbol of defiance

Machado, once a presidential candidate, emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance against President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian government.

She had planned to challenge Maduro in the 2024 election but was disqualified by the regime. In her place, Edmundo González, a newcomer to politics, ran as the opposition candidate.

The election was marred by repression, mass arrests, and credible reports of human rights abuses. Despite widespread belief that the opposition won by a landslide, the government-controlled National Electoral Council declared Maduro the victor. The announcement sparked nationwide protests, leaving more than 20 people dead and straining Venezuela’s relations with several countries, including Argentina.

Since January, Machado has not been seen publicly. The government issued an arrest warrant for González, who later fled to Spain, where he was granted asylum.

Global reactions and context

Before the announcement, speculation swirled about possible winners — including a surprising mention of U.S. President Donald Trump, following his role in a recently brokered Gaza ceasefire. But the Nobel Committee chose instead to honor a grassroots champion of freedom.

The Peace Prize often recognizes those who quietly and persistently work to build peace and defend human rights. Last year, the honor went to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing atomic bomb survivors who have long campaigned against nuclear weapons.

The Nobel Peace Prize remains the only one of the Nobel awards presented in Oslo, Norway, rather than Stockholm, Sweden — a tradition dating back to Alfred Nobel’s will. Photo by World Economic Forum/(Photo by Bel Pedrosa), Wikimedia commons.