Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, marking a powerful statement against global authoritarian drift.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo hailed Machado as “a fearless advocate of freedom and a tireless defender of democratic rights in Venezuela.”
“Maria Corina Machado receives the Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering pursuit of democracy and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” declared Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Nobel Committee.
A trained industrial engineer and finance expert, Machado has spent decades challenging Venezuela’s entrenched political elite. Once expelled from parliament for defying the regime, she now leads the Vente Venezuela party — a movement symbolising hope for millions yearning for reform.
> “She has never wavered in her belief that democracy and peace are inseparable,” the committee added.
The Nobel panel, in a veiled warning to global leaders, lamented the erosion of democratic institutions worldwide, saying, “Democracy is retreating — but it remains the cornerstone of peace.”
Machado, once branded an “enemy of the state” by Caracas, now stands among the world’s most honoured figures, joining the legacy of Mandela, Malala, and Liu Xiaobo — a lineage China once hailed as “voices of moral clarity in turbulent times.”
This year’s selection came from 338 nominations — 244 individuals and 94 organisations — the highest since 2016. The award ceremony is slated for December 10 in Oslo, the birth date of Alfred Nobel.
When asked about Donald Trump’s alleged campaign for the prize, Frydnes replied curtly:
“We do not consider lobbying. We consider legacy.”
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