María Corina Machado, the recent recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, stands as a formidable opposition leader in Venezuela. She has successfully cultivated one of the nation’s most significant political movements, advocating for change and democratic principles.
Currently, Machado is living in hiding. This difficult situation arose after the candidate she endorsed suffered a defeat in the 2024 election against President Nicolás Maduro—a vote widely considered to have been rigged.
In its official announcement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, responsible for bestowing this esteemed award, praised Ms. Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
The committee underscored that her selection was largely due to her unwavering commitment to advancing democracy, especially in light of Venezuela’s increasingly authoritarian government.
Born 58 years ago into a distinguished steelmaking family, Ms. Machado received her education at an exclusive Catholic girls’ school in Caracas before attending a boarding school in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Her academic pursuits led her to study engineering and finance, after which she joined her family’s enterprise, Sivensa.
Her dedication to public service began in 1992 with the establishment of the Atenea Foundation, an organization committed to assisting impoverished children in Caracas. Ten years later, she transitioned into political activism, co-founding Súmate, a prominent voter rights group. This group spearheaded an unsuccessful campaign to recall Hugo Chávez, the architect of Venezuela’s modern socialist movement and predecessor to Mr. Maduro.
In 2010, Ms. Machado secured a seat in the National Assembly with an unprecedented number of votes, a testament to her growing influence. Today, she leads the Vente Venezuela opposition party, and in 2023, she declared her intention to run for president in the 2024 election.
However, her presidential aspirations were thwarted when the government barred her from the race, citing alleged financial irregularities during her tenure as a national legislator. Consequently, she lent her support to another candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia.
Mr. González then challenged Mr. Maduro, who has maintained his grip on power since Hugo Chávez’s passing in 2013. Despite widespread skepticism, Mr. Maduro declared himself the victor of the election.
Nevertheless, the opposition fiercely contended the results, asserting their victory and gathering extensive evidence to demonstrate that Mr. González had, in fact, won by a significant margin.
Following the announcement, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, addressed reporters, confirming that the judges had carefully considered the security risks associated with awarding the prize to Machado. He stated, “This is the discussion we have every year for all candidates, particularly when the person who receives the prize is, in fact, in hiding because of serious threats to her life.” Frydnes expressed the committee’s conviction that this prestigious award would ultimately bolster her vital cause.
Mr. Frydnes concluded by expressing hope that Ms. Machado would be able to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in December, emphasizing that her attendance would be contingent on the prevailing security conditions.