María Corina Machado gets Nobel Peace Prize
Oslo/Caracas – The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s leading opposition figure. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized her for “defending democratic rights and keeping the flame of democracy alive in dark times.”
Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the five-member committee, announced the prize at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. The decision underscores Venezuela’s long-running political crisis and highlights the importance of peaceful resistance in the face of authoritarian rule.
Who Is María Corina Machado? A Voice of Defiance and Hope
Born in Caracas in 1967, María Corina Machado trained as an industrial engineer before turning to politics. In the early 2000s, she co-founded Súmate, a civil society group that monitored elections. Later, she launched her political party, Vente Venezuela, which became a prominent voice against Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
In 2023, Machado won Venezuela’s opposition primaries with overwhelming support. But government officials quickly disqualified her from running in the 2024 presidential election. The regime accused her of administrative violations—widely seen as a political move to silence her.
Machado refused to back down. Even after a brief detention in early 2025, she stayed in Venezuela, continuing to call for free elections and constitutional reform. Her commitment earned international support. In 2024, the European Parliament awarded her the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Now, the Nobel Peace Prize cements her place among global leaders who have peacefully challenged repression.
Trump’s Lobbying Fails as Nobel Committee Takes a Stand
Former U.S. President Donald Trump did not receive the Peace Prize, despite an intense public campaign and nominations from countries including Israel, Pakistan, and Armenia. Trump claimed credit for ceasefires in the Middle East and demanded recognition for his diplomatic efforts.
“I stopped eight wars,” Trump told reporters earlier this year. “No one in history has done that.”
However, the Nobel Committee focused on enduring democratic struggles. Frydnes clarified that the committee finalized its decision days before the public announcement and confirmed that ongoing conflicts, such as those in the Middle East, may be considered in future years.
A Turning Point for Venezuela’s Opposition
The Nobel Prize for Machado brings renewed international attention to Venezuela’s political crisis. It also puts pressure on President Maduro’s government ahead of the 2025 general elections. Despite facing legal obstacles, Machado remains a symbol of hope for millions of Venezuelans.
The committee’s decision reflects a broader trend—recognizing grassroots democracy movements rather than established diplomats. Machado now joins past laureates such as Malala Yousafzai, Liu Xiaobo, and Nelson Mandela, all honored for challenging injustice through peaceful means.
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