Oslo – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was honored with the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her unwavering commitment to democracy and relentless struggle against authoritarianism in Venezuela. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized Machado’s “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”.
Known as Venezuela’s “Iron Lady”, 58-year-old Machado has been a polarizing yet powerful figure in Venezuelan politics, uniting disparate opposition factions with her uncompromising stance against Nicolás Maduro’s government. “I’m in shock!” Machado exclaimed in a video shared upon hearing the news, visibly stunned and smiling through tears. “Oh my God, I have no words,” she added, expressing her profound emotion.
Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Nobel Committee, described Machado as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times”, praising her decision to remain in Venezuela despite “serious threats against her life”. Her determination, Frydnes noted, has “inspired millions” across the country.
Machado had been barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election by Maduro’s government, leading her to back opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. The election results were widely disputed, with the opposition alleging fraud and claiming Gonzalez won by a landslide, contrary to Maduro’s declared victory. The outcome sparked mass protests met with government brutality, forcing Machado into hiding for over 14 months.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed Machado as “the Venezuelan Iron Lady, personification of resilience, tenacity, and patriotism”. Edmundo Gonzalez, speaking from exile, reacted to the Nobel win with Gonzalez saying “We’re shocked with joy”.
The Nobel Peace Prize carries a monetary award of 1.2 million U.S. dollars, to be presented at a ceremony in Oslo later this year. Machado’s win places her alongside global icons like Aung San Suu Kyi, Malala Yousafzai, and Nelson Mandela, recognized for peaceful resistance against oppression.
