Maria Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for “tireless work” advancing democratic rights in Venezuela, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday, 10 October. The committee hailed her as a unifying opposition figure pressing for free elections and a peaceful transition from authoritarian rule. Maria Corina Machado Nobel Peace Prize recognition lands as Venezuela remains in crisis.
A Leader Under Pressure
Blocked by courts from running in 2024, Machado backed diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia. The opposition said district-level counts showed an opposition victory. However, Nicolás Maduro rejected that claim and launched a sweeping crackdown. This forced González into exile. It also drove Machado into hiding amid threats to her life. The committee praised her choice to stay in the country despite the risks, saying it has inspired millions.
The Committee’s Reasoning
The Nobel panel described Venezuela’s slide from a “relatively democratic and prosperous country” to a “brutal, authoritarian state,” with mass poverty and nearly 8 million people displaced. It credited Machado with keeping “the flame of democracy burning.” She helped a once-divided opposition find common ground. Maria Corina Machado Nobel Peace Prize honors decades of activism, including her tenure in the National Assembly and high-profile clashes with Hugo Chávez
Reactions at Home and Abroad
Machado called the prize an “immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans” and urged global support for free and fair elections. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the award reflects Venezuelans’ aspiration for rule of law and civil and political rights. Meanwhile, debate swirled around international politics. The White House reacted angrily after Donald Trump—who had touted his own chances—did not win.
What’s Next
The Nobel Peace Prize—worth 11 million Swedish kronor—will be presented in Oslo on 10 December. Whether this spotlight shields activists or triggers another clampdown remains the key test for Venezuela’s path forward. For many, the Maria Corina Machado Nobel Peace Prize signals rising pressure on Caracas to open political space.
