Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
Machado, 58, was hailed by the Nobel Committee as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times”. She has campaigned against Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro Moros, whose 12-year rule is viewed by many as illegitimate.
“This immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is an impetus to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom,” Machado said in a statement.
Announcing the recipient of the prize, the committee warned that “democracy is in retreat” across the world.
Machado, who has been forced to live in hiding for much of the past year, was recognized for “her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” Nobel chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes said. She has been a “key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided… in a brutal authoritarian state that is now suffering a humanitarian and economic crisis,” he added.
“Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions.”
Reacting to the announcement, Machado expressed her gratitude and determination. “We are on the threshold of victory and today more than ever we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our main allies to achieve Freedom and democracy. Venezuela will be free!” she stated.
The Nobel Committee’s decision was met with a strong reaction from the White House, with communications director Steven Cheung stating that the committee had “place[d] politics over peace.” He added that President Trump “has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.”
Frydnes acknowledged the intense media attention and political pressures that often accompany Nobel Prize deliberations, but emphasized that decisions are made solely based on Alfred Nobel’s will and the contributions of the nominees.
Machado’s victory is seen as a powerful endorsement of her tireless efforts to foster democratic change in Venezuela. Her ability to unite a divided opposition and inspire millions, even while living in hiding, underscores her significant impact.