Maria Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition politician who was excluded from last year’s presidential election, has been awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the decision on Friday via its social media platform X, recognizing 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.”
In Oslo, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Nobel Committee, stated that the prize was awarded to “a brave and committed champion of peace, to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amidst a growing darkness.” He emphasized that Machado meets all the criteria outlined by Alfred Nobel, which include contributions to “fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
Machado, known as the “Iron Lady” in Venezuela, is only the 20th woman among 143 laureates since the prize’s inception in 1901. Upon learning of her award, she expressed shock, according to a video shared with AFP news agency. “I’m in shock!” she said, speaking over the phone to Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who replaced her as the opposition candidate after she was barred from running.
Gonzalez Urrutia also described the moment as one of “shock and joy.”
Born on October 7, 1967, in Caracas, Maria Corina Machado Parisca holds degrees in industrial engineering and finance. She entered politics in 2002 as a cofounder of Sumate, a civil association aimed at uniting Venezuelans amid political polarization under President Nicolas Maduro. In 2002, she led a referendum to recall former president Hugo Chavez, an act that led to accusations of treason and threats against her family, prompting her children to be sent abroad.
Despite these challenges, Machado remained a steadfast opponent of Maduro, who has held power since 2013. In 2023, she won the opposition’s presidential primary, positioning herself as a key challenger to Maduro in the 2024 elections. However, a court upheld a ban preventing her from holding office, citing alleged involvement in corruption and support for U.S. sanctions.
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia took her place as the opposition candidate, while Machado continued to campaign through her proxy. Today, she remains isolated in Venezuela, with many of her senior advisers detained or forced to flee due to threats from Maduro’s supporters. Urrutia is believed to be in exile in Spain, though some reports suggest he is traveling across Latin America.
After the disputed July 2024 election, where Maduro declared victory, Machado went into hiding, fearing for her life. She briefly emerged in August 2024 to join protests in Caracas, where she addressed supporters dressed in white. “We have never been as strong as today,” she told them.
In January 2025, she reappeared to protest Maduro’s inauguration but was briefly arrested before being released. From atop a truck, she shouted, “Venezuela is united,” as she waved a flag before her arrest. The Maduro government accused her of orchestrating a “conspiracy” and dismissed the incident as a media distraction.
Despite her current state of hiding, Machado continues to engage with her supporters through social media. In May 2025, she claimed victory in the parliamentary elections, even though the ruling coalition was officially declared the winner. On X, she called the election an “enormous farce” staged by the regime.
In 2024, the European Union awarded Machado and Urrutia its top human rights prize, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, citing their role in the fight for freedom and democracy in Venezuela.
The Nobel Committee highlighted that Machado has “never wavered in resisting the militarisation of Venezuelan society” and has consistently advocated for a peaceful transition to democracy. It noted that she has been forced to live in hiding due to serious threats to her life, yet she has remained in the country, inspiring millions.
Frydnes emphasized that the committee’s decision is based solely on the principles outlined by Alfred Nobel. He added that the award aims to highlight the importance of democracy as a precondition for peace, especially in a world where the number of democracies is declining.
Nina Graeger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), called the decision a “prize for democracy.” She noted that the award underscores the courage of those defending freedom through peaceful means, such as elections, rather than violence.
Meanwhile, there has been no official response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had publicly expressed his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump has claimed to have ended “seven wars” and recently sought credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which he said was rooted in his 20-point peace plan.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized the Nobel Committee for not selecting Trump, claiming it prioritized politics over peace. However, Frydnes reiterated that the committee bases its decisions strictly on the work and will of Alfred Nobel, emphasizing that the selection process is guided by the values of courage and integrity reflected in the legacy of past laureates.
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