Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, October 10, 2025. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized her for her steadfast promotion of democratic rights in Venezuela and her dedicated struggle to achieve a transition to democracy in the country.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, on October 7, 1967, Maria Corina Machado, now 58, is an industrial engineer by profession. Her father was a prominent figure in Venezuela’s steel industry. Coming from an upper-class background has often made her a target of criticism from Venezuela’s ruling socialist party.
Maria Corina Machado’s Period of ‘Hiding’
In 2023, Ms. Machado secured a decisive victory in the opposition’s primary elections, and her rallies drew immense crowds. However, an official ban on her holding public office prevented her from challenging Nicolas Maduro in the 2024 presidential election, leading her to go into hiding.
Despite this, the country’s electoral authority and top court declared Mr. Maduro the winner of the election. His tenure has been marked by severe economic and social crises, and while the authorities claimed his victory, detailed tallies were never publicly released.
Ms. Machado briefly emerged from hiding to participate in a protest prior to Mr. Maduro’s inauguration in January. She was arrested briefly before being released.
A Journey of Political Awakening
Ms. Machado’s political activism began in 2002. While working for her family’s steel and rebar manufacturing business, she founded Sumate. Initially focused on monitoring elections, the group evolved into a vital opposition force over time.
In 2012, two years after her family’s enterprise was nationalized by the Hugo Chavez government, she first ran as a candidate in an opposition primary against Chavez, a contest ultimately won by Henrique Capriles.
In 2023, she launched another presidential campaign. Her efforts, characterized by modest campaign events often held in smaller towns with limited resources, successfully propelled her to victory in the party’s primary, garnering over 2 million votes.
Her grassroots campaign, often conducted by car or even on foot, forged a strong connection with her supporters. Despite the government’s prohibition of her candidacy, her party eventually passed the mantle to Edmundo Gonzalez, a lesser-known former diplomat and academic.
Close Bonds with Fellow Activists
¡Nuestra querida Maria Corina Machado, galardonada con el Premio Nobel de la Paz 2025! Merecidísimo reconocimiento a la larga lucha de una mujer y de todo un pueblo por nuestra libertad y democracia. ¡La primer Nobel de Venezuela! ¡Enhorabuena @mariacorinaya, Venezuela será…
“I’m in shock. I can’t believe this… My God!” Ms. Machado exclaimed upon officially receiving the news of her Peace Prize. Her ally, Mr. Gonzalez, who sought diplomatic refuge and relocated to Spain in September 2024 due to fears of imprisonment or torture in Venezuela, has maintained a close relationship with Ms. Machado. She often speaks of their frequent conversations about the shared “fight for liberty.”
Mr. Gonzalez was widely perceived as the victor in the 2024 presidential election. However, Mr. Maduro’s administration declared him the winner, allowing Maduro to retain power. Several nations, including the U.S. and the European Union, do not acknowledge Mr. Maduro’s government as legitimate.
Champion of Liberal Economic Reforms
Ms. Machado champions liberal economic reforms, advocating for the privatization of state-owned enterprises such as PDVSA, Venezuela’s national oil company. She also supports the implementation of welfare programs designed to assist the country’s most impoverished citizens.
A Collective Battle
“I hope you understand this is a movement; this is an achievement of a whole society,” Ms. Machado stated during the call where she was informed of her Peace Prize win.
Although occasionally criticized for her stubbornness—even by her own mother—Ms. Machado seldom speaks about herself publicly. Instead, she frames her campaign as a collective struggle for redemption and unity, striving to instill hope among Venezuelans who are exhausted by economic hardship and social decline.
Her unwavering political activism has come at a significant personal cost, leaving her isolated. Nearly all of her senior advisors have either been detained or forced to flee the country. Ms. Machado herself has openly accused Mr. Maduro’s administration of functioning as a “criminal mafia.”