Oslo, October 10(HS): Venezuelan democracy activist María Corina Machado has been honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 in recognition of her relentless efforts to promote democratic rights and foster a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela. The announcement was made today by the Norwegian Nobel Committee during a high-profile event in Oslo, Norway.
The committee chairman, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, described Machado as “a brave and committed champion of peace” and one of Latin America’s most extraordinary examples of civilian courage amidst political darkness. Machado has been a pivotal figure in uniting Venezuela’s opposition and steadfastly supporting democratic tools as instruments of peace, embodying hope for a future where citizens’ rights are safeguarded and peace prevails.
Despite serious security threats forcing her into hiding since August 2024, Machado remains active in Venezuela, with the committee emphasizing that the prize aims to bolster her cause rather than restrict her presence. Frydnes acknowledged the serious security situation that may prevent Machado from attending the prize ceremony in Oslo this December.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted the broader context for awarding Machado, noting that democracy is retreating globally as authoritarian regimes increasingly challenge democratic norms through violence, media suppression, and the abuse of the rule of law. Venezuela’s regime was specifically criticized for refusing to accept election results and clinging to power amid calls for free and fair elections championed by Machado over two decades.
The decision follows a year where more than 300 candidates were nominated, including notable figures rumored to be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya. The Nobel Committee reaffirmed that its selections are based solely on Alfred Nobel’s will, unaffected by external campaigns, including a recent high-profile but unsuccessful bid by United States President Donald Trump.
Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize comes as a beacon for democracy defenders worldwide, symbolizing courage and the unyielding pursuit of peaceful political transformation in the face of authoritarian repression.
María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is a Venezuelan politician, industrial engineer, and human rights advocate born on October 7, 1967. She is a leading figure of the Venezuelan opposition, notably known for founding Súmate, a civil society group promoting free elections, and serving as National Coordinator of the liberal political party Vente Venezuela, which she co-founded in 2013. Machado was elected to Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2010 with the highest votes nationwide but was expelled in 2014 after speaking out against government abuses at the Organization of American States.Her activism includes organizing major protests against Nicolás Maduro’s government, working to unite Venezuela’s divided opposition, and fighting for peaceful democratic transitions.
Despite facing political persecution, disqualification from elections, and security threats that have forced her into hiding since August 2024, Machado remains a symbol of resistance and democracy in Venezuela.She holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Andrés Bello Catholic University and a master’s in finance from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA). Machado’s efforts to defend democratic rights and oppose authoritarianism have garnered her international recognition, including being named one of BBC’s 100 Women in 2018 and a leading voice advocating human rights and democracy in Latin America.
Her Nobel Peace Prize honors her tireless work promoting democratic rights and striving for a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.
—————
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
